By Paul A. Reid and Richard Bryan, Gleaner WritersWESTERN BUREAU:
BELLEFIELD HIGH and Glenmuir both won for the third straight time yesterday to join Black River as the top schools in the ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus daCosta Cup rural area schoolboy football competition.
Orane Swaby scored in the 35th minute and captain Kemar Price from the penalty spot in the 60th minute as Bellefield took over sole leadership of Zone F as they handed Manchester High a 2-0 defeat and their first loss, while DeCarteret and May Day played to a 2-2 draw.
Bellefield, Manchester and May Day had gone into the round of games tied on six points each.
Bellefield is now in front on nine points, two more than May Day with Manchester a point back.
The 1-1 draw between Cross Keys and Winston Jones played to a 1-1 draw, resulting in the first point for either team this season.
Glenmuir edged Central High 3-2 in their game at Ebony Park to run their record to a perfect three from three and extend their lead the zone by five points with Clarendon College, who scored their first win of the season, and their victims Denbigh both tied on four points each.
Keen Bennett who scored yesterday's lone goal has scored all three goals netted by Clarendon so far this season.
Meanwhile in the lone Zone I game played, former champions Vere Technical scored their first goal of the season in their third game but went down 3-1 to Porus who temporarily joined Old Harbour and Garvey Maceo in the lead, all on six points each.
Old Harbour and Garvey Maceo will be in action this afternoon and should win their games against Bustamante High and Kemps Hill respectively and to set up an interesting clash for next Tuesday. Both are on six points.
Today Black River, with three wins so far and the second highest number of goals (behind Seaforth), will be leading three other teams who will be seeking to make at least a hat-trick of victories from as many starts.
They will be travelling to Munro College who are still smarting from their 3-0 spanking at the hands of arch rivals St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) on Saturday.
Munro will have their work cut out for them today if they are keep pace in the group as Maggotty got off to a quiet but efficient start with two wins in both matches played.
Maggotty should make it three from three today when they take on BB Coke at the Alpart Sports Club and could move into second spot with STETHS idle.
With two wins under their belt so far, Christiana should also claim their third and stay ahead of the pack in Zone G when they take on second placed Mile Gully in what should be a keen contest.
Spalding is well placed - in joint second with Mile Gully - to take over the lead in the event the other game ends in a draw.
Defending champions Rusea's will return to action after an 11-day break since they beat Grange Hill in the season-opener at Jarret Park.
A tough battle is expected at the Frome Sports Club where Frome will be playing their third game in an eight-day span and would have settled on a rhythm, while the champions have had to settle for practice games in the interim.
Rusea's was however impressive in their only game and if they can build on that performance will be hard to beat in Zone B this year.
The teams shared a two victories last year, each winning at the other's home field.
In Zone A Cornwall College will be hoping to break a three-year jinx as they seek only their second win over a Trelawny team since the opening game of the 2001 season when they beat William Knibb 3-1 at the National Stadium.
Today they will host a William Knibb team coming off a 1-1 draw at home to Herbert Morrison. If this game is to match up to their exciting 2-2 draw at the same venue last season, the fans at Jarrett Park will be in for a treat.
Cornwall looked indecisive in their win over St James High on Saturday and will need a much-improved performance today if they are to chalk up their second win.
