WESTMORELAND, Jamaica—Four schools took big steps towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the ISSA/Burger King Rural Area Under-14 football competition after winning their second game on Monday.

Cornwall College, Belair High, Manchester High and St Thomas Technical all improved to six points in their respective second-round groups, from which the top two teams will advance to the next round.

Despite conceding their first goal all season, Cornwall College prevailed 2-1 over Grange Hill High in Westmoreland to take the lead in Group 1 after beating Cedric Titus High 3-0 on Friday.

Belair High outscored St Elizabeth Technical 4-3 in Group 3 as the losers dropped to second place on three points, the same as Brown’s Town High, who beat Alphansus Davis High 4-0.

Manchester High beat Munro College 3-1 in Group 4; the losers stayed in second on three points as Central High and Bellefield High ended 2-2, each on one point.

St Thomas Technical handed York Castle High their second loss in the round, winning 3-2 in their Group 5 game as McGrath High beat defending champions Glenmuir High, but trail them on goal difference, both on three points each.

Rusea’s High scored the biggest win of the day, hammering Cedric Titus 10-2 in Lucea to be in second place in Group 1.

There is a three-way tie for the lead in Group 2 between Anchovy High, Irwin High and William Knibb Memorial.

On Monday, William Knibb edged Anchovy High 1-0, and Irwin High handed Godfrey Stewart a second loss with a 2-0 victory.

Garvey Maceo and Edwin Allen are tied on four points in Group 5 after a 5-1 win over Dinthill Technical and a 1-0 win over Port Antonio High, respectively.

Titchfield lead Group 7 with four points after a 1-1 draw against Ocho Rios High, while Clarendon College are second after edging Morant Bay High 1-0.

-Paul A Reid