daCosta play-off spots become clearer today
THE 12 schools that will contest the play-offs for places in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition should be known after Wednesday’s round of matches.
The two automatic qualifiers from Zones C, E and I are to be decided with a round robin play-off between the top four teams, following the completion of the first seven games in those zones that have eight teams each.
Also today, a number of schools will be expecting to move closer to qualifying for the second round, including Zone G leaders Mile Gully High and Christiana High who will meet in a rescheduled first-round game. Dinthill Technical will put their perfect record up against last-placed Ewarton High in Zone J, as well as Glenmuir High and Denbigh High who will face Porus High and Central High, respectively, in Zone M.
Happy Grove High joined Morant Bay High as the only teams to have secured their place in the second round when Happy Grove edged Port Antonio High 3-2 to 12 points in Zone N on Tuesday.
Happy Grove came from two goals down to win their fourth-straight game, with goals from Sean Williams in the 58th minute, Shevon Miller in the 67th, and Bonny Chisholm in the 72nd.
Kerone George sent Port Antonio ahead with a first-half brace in minute 34 and time added just before half-time.
So far five schools — Cedric Titus High and Brown’s Town High from Zone C, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and BB Coke in Zone E, and Tacky High in Zone I — have qualified for the play-offs.
Three teams are still in contention for the two spots in Zone C, and with Ocho Rios High on 13 points virtually secure, the winner of the game between York Castle High and William Knibb would join them.
York Castle needs only a point to advance but William Knibb are awaiting the outcome of an appeal after losing points to Cedric Titus — and if they are successful this could change the picture completely.
Three schools have legitimate chances in Zone E where Munro College, who are on 11 points and coming off a loss to BB Coke, need only a draw against fellow contenders Lacovia High (10 points) to book their play-off spot.
A win for Lacovia High could see both teams through. Maggotty High can also advance with a win over Sydney Pagon STEM, regardless of the result from the Munro-Lacovia game.
As many as four schools are still eligible for the two spots from Zone I, where Tacky High is sitting pretty with 14 points and will face St Mary Tech who are out of contention.
Wycliffe Martin High, on 13 points, and Annotto Bay on 12 will meet in a game that could determine the outcome of the others as Horace Clarke, who are also on 13 points, take on St Mary High who are long shots to get into the top four.
Also Tuesday, Frome Technical beat Green Island High for the second time in four days, winning 6-1 in the second game after beating them 6-0 on Saturday. They and Rusea’s High moved to within a point of advancing to the second round.
Stevaughn Spence scored a double for Frome Tech while Jovauni Williams, Dwayne Watt, Kevin Lawrence, and Demar Williams all scored one each.
Braxton Richards scored his first goal of the season as Cornwall College came from a goal down at half-time to earn a 1-1 draw with Irwin High in their return-round game in Zone A.
Leo Campbell scored in his third-straight game to give Irwin the lead in the 40th minute but Richards fired home in the 52nd to share the points.
Green Pond scored their first win, blanking Maldon High 3-0, while St James High came from a goal down to beat Spot Valley High who showed up with just 12 players.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Frome Tech 6, Green Island 1
Green Pond 3, Maldon High 0
Irwin High 1, Cornwall College 1
St James High 2, Spot Valley 1
Claude McKay High vs Lennon High – called off due to lightning
Kellits High vs Clarendon College – called off
Garvey Maceo High vs Tacius Golding – called off with Garvey leading 7-0
Vere Technical 0, Kemps Hill 0
Happy Grove 3, Port Antonio High 2
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Fair Prospect High vs Titchfield High – Fair Prospect
Christiana High vs Mile Gully – Kirkvine Sports Complex
Ferncourt High vs Discovery Bay High – Drax Hall
Cedric Titus vs Browns Town High – Cedric Titus
York Castle High vs William Knibb Mem – York Castle
Aabuthnott Gallimore vs Ocho Rios – Aabuthnott Gallimore
Sydney Pagon STEM vs Maggotty High – Sydney Pagon
Munro College vs Lacovia High – Munro
BB Coke vs STETHS – BB Coke
Roger Clarke High vs Newell High – Roger Clarke
Knockalva Technical vs Grange Hil l – Knockalva
Mannings School vs Petersfield – Manning’s
Edwin Allen vs Thompson Town High – Edwin Allen
Iona High vs Carron Hall – Rio Nuevo Playfield
Annotto Bay High vs Wycliffe Martin High – Annotto Bay
Horace Clarke High vs St Mary High – Horace Clarke
St Mary Tech vs Tacky High – St Mary Tech
Ewarton High vs Dinthill Technical – Ewarton Sports Complex
Enid Bennett High vs McGrath High – Knollis Sports Complex
Porus High vs Glenmuir High – Porus Comm Centre
Denbigh High vs Central High – Denbigh High