MONTEGO BAY, St James — Irwin High are on the verge of an historic qualification to the second round of the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup football competition when they take on last-place Anchovy High in the first game of a Zone A double-header at Cornwall College today.

Irwin High lead Zone A with 18 points from eight games, six more than second-place Cornwall College with Green Pond High in third place with 10 points, the latter two from seven games.

After winning a school record four games, Irwin High drew their next three games before beating Green Pond 2-0 on Saturday and another win today against Anchovy would put them in a good position.

Cornwall College and St James, who are on nine points from six games, will be meeting for the first time this season and are also in contention for a place in the second round as well as Green Pond High and Maldon High who will also meet.

Meanwhile Petersfield High, Holmwood Technical, Glenmuir High and defending champions Garvey Maceo High can also make progress today.

Petersfield High are in second place in Zone D and will face leaders and qualifiers Manning’s School in their first meeting this season and a draw would be good enough or them to advance.

Manning’s School lead with 22 points, seven more than Petersfield High with Godfrey Stewart further back in third place on nine points and hosts Grange Hill today.

Zone G leaders Holmwood Technical will confirm their second-round place today, despite not playing as any result between Christiana High and Mile Gully will benefit them.

Holmwood Technical are on 15 points from their seven games played and only Christiana High — 11 points and Mile Gully 10 points — can pass them in the tables.

Glenmuir High have won their four games played so far in Zone M and if they beat Old Harbour High today would advance along with Central High who are already on 15 points.

A point will be sufficient for the defending champs today when they meet Foga Road in a Zone N return-round game as they seek a sixth-straight win after their opening day 2-2 draw against Kemps Hill.

Garvey Maceo are coming off a hard-fought 2-0 win over second-placed Vere Technical on Saturday and are comfortable on 16 points and one more would see them safely through to the next round.

— Paul Reid

Tuesday’s games

Zone A

Green Pond vs Maldon @ Green Pond

Anchovy vs Irwin @ Cornwall

College 1:00 pm

Cornwall College vs St James @ Cornwall 3:10 pm

Zone D

Black River vs Belmont @ Black River

Godfrey Stewart vs Grange Hill @ Godfrey Stewart

Petersfield vs Manning’s @ Petersfield

Zone E

Lacovia vs Sydney Pagon @ Lacovia

Maggotty vs BB Coke @ STETHS

Munro College vs STETHS @ Munro

Zone G

Alphansus Davis vs Alston @ Alphansus Davis

Christiana vs Mile Gully @ Christiana

Zone M

Denbigh vs Tacius Golding

Glenmuir vs Old Harbour

Zone N

Foga Road vs Garvey Maceo @

Foga Road

Kemps Hill vs Vere Tech @ Kemps Hill