WESTERN BUREAU:
FIVE OF the seven schools who could book their places in the inter-zone round of the ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus daCosta Cup schoolboys football competition made full use of the chance yesterday, bringing to 14 the total number of schools that have advanced.
Former champions Clarendon College and Dinthill led the way while Bellefield, Manchester High and Charlemont also made it into the second round following yesterday's round of games in the return round.
Meanwhile, defending champions Rusea's High inched closer to a place from Zone B after a stirring come from behind 3-2 win over Merlene Ottey High in Pond Side, Hanover.
The home team led 2-0 through goals from Derval Watson in the ninth minute and Richard Davis in the 54th.
Roared on by hundreds of supporters, Jermaine Ennis, with a thunderous free kick in the 55th, substitute Merrick Daley in the 64th and Kadian Hamilton in the 73rd ensured maximum points for the champions.
Rusea's are now on 11 points, joint second with Grange Hill who beat eliminated Green Island, both are one point behind leaders Frome who have two games in hand and are all but assured of winning the zone.
ENSURED THEIR PLACE
Manchester High ensured their place after missing out by a point last year with a 2-0 win over Winston Jones while Bellefield took the other place from Zone F with a 1-0 win over May Day.
Clarendon tied up the second spot from Zone H behind Garvey Maceo with a 3-0 win over Claude McKay while Dinthill hammered Glengoffe 4-0 in Zone J while Charlemont's point from their 1-1 draw with Ewarton was enough to seal the other place from Zone J.
Ferncourt, who needed to beat qualifiers Brown's Town, lost 1-0 and must now hope York Castle upset Cedric Titus in the final game of Zone D on Saturday to have a chance of advancing for the first time in two seasons. A draw will be good enough for Cedric Titus to advance on better goal difference.
Three more teams, two from Zone E and one from Zone G could also book their places today.
Fresh from their bruising 2-2 draw against Black River on Tuesday, Zone E leaders Munro will take on Maggoty who must win to keep their hopes alive after being edged 1-0 by B.B. Coke also on Tuesday.
Black River, meanwhile, will try to stay ahead of former winners St. Elizabeth Technical when they travel to Santa Cruz.
Black River are on 21 points, three more than STETHS who have a game in hand.
