MANCHESTER High should confirm their place in the second round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association daCosta Cup football competition when they take on last-place May Day High this afternoon for the second time in three days.

On Monday, Manchester High hammered May Day 8-0 in the rescheduled Zone F first-round match. They are expected to win again in the return match, and 22 points will be enough to confirm their place in the draw for the second round.

There is, however, a fierce battle for the other automatic spot between deCarteret College and Belair High, both of whom are to also meet for a second time in three days.

DeCarteret College’s 1-0 win on Monday saw them move past Belair High (18 points) into second place on goal difference. They have one point fewer than Manchester High, with all having played eight games.

Monday’s loss snapped Belair’s six-game winning run.

If there is a winner this afternoon, that team would take a big step toward qualification for the next round, with both schools having a 10th and final game to complete the first round.

William Knibb Memorial and Cedric Titus, both tied for the lead in Zone C and also through to the next round, will also meet for a second time in three days after drawing 0-0 on Monday in Clarks Town.

It was the first time either school was dropping points all season but Wednesday’s match could prove decisive with the winner seizing control of the group and the prospect of a favourable draw in the second round.

Another draw would benefit William Knibb Memorial who boast a massive goal difference of 33 to Cedric Titus’s 12.

Former champions Frome Technical and Clarendon College will seek to extend their perfect records as well today, both going after a seventh win.

Frome could move to within a point of topping Zone B when they host Green Island at the Frome Sports Club, while Clarendon College host Thompson Town in Zone H.

— Paul A Reid