KEMPS Hill High can be the first-quarter finalists in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition if they can beat Garvey Maceo High in their round-of-16 game set for Foga Road High today at 3:00 pm.

Kemps Hill, who were third in the first-round group having lost twice to Garvey Maceo, lead Zone 1 with three points from beating Alphansus Davis High 5-0 on Saturday, while St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) and Garvey Maceo drew 1-1 in Santa Cruz.

Also today, STETHS will host Alphansus Davis High in the other Group 1 game while Dinthill Technical and Happy Grove High will both seek to rebound from losses on Saturday when they meet at Dinthill in a Group 3 game.

Despite losing twice to Garvey Maceo, first-year Coach Kiegon Mitchell told the
Jamaica Observer yesterday they are confident they can overturn the losses to the two-time champions.

“We are confident that we can win,” he said. “We have momentum behind us after winning our last three games and [being] unbeaten in our last four.”

Kemps Hill are getting out of their first round for the first time since 2016, after they were third behind Glenmuir High and Garvey Maceo but were in one of five first-round zones that had mini-play-offs, with the top three qualifying for the round of 32.

Garvey Maceo had beaten Kemps Hill 5-1 in the first round, 1-0 during the in-zone play-offs, and are unbeaten in their last nine games — a run that includes a win over Glenmuir in Zone I — and have scored 23 goals in that run.

Alphansus Davis, who were also a ‘third-place’ qualifier from the first round but managed to survive the round of 32, will have their backs to the wall when they face STETHS who are also on a roll and unbeaten in their last seven games, going back to the first round.

STETHS won their round-of 32-group on goal difference — ahead of Manchester High — without conceding a goal and will start favourites to win at home today.

Dinthill Technical are in danger of not getting to at least the quarter-final for the first time in 11 years — since the 2013 season — and must win their remaining two games if they are to keep that record.

Happy Grove, who are enjoying one of their best seasons in years, were surprised 5-0 by Ocho Rios High on Saturday and also must rebound today if they are to keep their hopes alive of advancing.

Tuesday’s games

•STETHS vs Alphansus Davis – STETHS

•Garvey Maceo High vs Kemps Hill High — Foga Road

•Dinthill Technical vs Happy Grove High — Dinthill Technical

*All matches start at 3:00 pm.