IRWIN, St James — Maldon High could create history today if they can advance past the first round of the ISSA daCosta Cup football for the first time ever, but they must beat St James High in a rescheduled Zone A game at Irwin High, starting at 1:00 pm.

Maldon High, who were awarded points from their unplayed game against Green Pond High on Thursday, are in second place on 16 points, one more than Cornwall College who will play out-of-contention St James High on Thursday.

A win for Maldon High would see them join zone winners Irwin High as the qualifiers from Zone A, making it the first time ever both qualifiers from the zone would be advancing.

Maldon High would also complete the 30 automatic qualifiers that will join the two best third-place teams from the pre-selected pools and complete the qualifiers for the second round that is set to start later this week.

Three other games, for academic purposes, are also down to be played today.

Irwin High, who became the first school in 12 years to beat Cornwall College two times in the same season in Zone A, topped the zone with 24 points and are unbeaten.

If Maldon High win the game and advance it would be one of the most dramatic turnarounds in back-to-back seasons after they failed to score a single goal last season, losing all seven games played.

The Dillon Thelwell-coached Maldon are on an eight-game unbeaten run after they lost their opening game to Cornwall College on September 14 and had drawn 1-1 with St James High in their first-round game.

St James High could finish third in Zone A but would have to win both games and overturn a massive goal difference held by Cornwall College — and that could be more than the capacity of the young squad who are coming off back-to-back losses to Cornwall College and Green Pond High.

Meanwhile, deCarteret College and Charlemont High lead the best third-place teams from Pool 1 and Pool 2, respectively, both with a 1.9 averages

Also today, Glenmuir High face Denbigh High in a Zone M game, May Day High and Bellefield will meet in a Zone F game, while Winston Jones High and Kemps Hill will meet in a Zone N game.

TODAY’S GAMES

Zone A

Maldon vs St James @ Irwin

Zone F

May Day vs Bellefield @ May Day

Zone M

Denbigh vs Glenmuir @ Denbigh

Zone N

Winston Jones vs Kemps Hill @ Sunset Play Field, Knockpatrick

— Paul Reid