Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
WITH THE preliminary round of the 2005 ISSA/Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup football competition now drawing to a close, the battle for inter-zone places should intensify this afternoon as a full slate of matches, inclusive of a number of top-of-the-table clashes, will unfold across the island.
In Zone A, where four teams are in a keen tussle for the two places from the group, former champions Cornwall College, which lead with 25 points, will square-off with William Knibb High School (22) in a top-of-the-table clash at Jarrett Park. Victory for Cornwall will put them on the verge of taking group honours.
AIMING TO TOP GROUP
"For us, it is not just a matter of qualifying for the inter-zone round, we are aiming to win the group so that we can qualify for the Ben Francis Knockout," said Cornwall College's coach Dr. Dean Weatherley. "The way to do that is win all our remaining games."
In the other Zone A games, Herbert Morrison and Anchovy High, who are both locked on 19 points, will be seeking to improve their inter-zone round bid when they square-off against the hopeless Muschett High and Irwin High respectively in games slated for Montego Bay.
The big top-of-the-table clash between leaders Rusea's (15) and second place Frome Technical (14), which is slated for the Frome Sports Ground, in Westmoreland, should take the spotlight in Zone B as the teams seek to stay clear of third place Grange Hill (13).
CRUCIAL ROUND
"This is a crucial round of games for the top three teams in this group," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "With just three rounds of matches to go, any team that slip at this stage could find themselves out of contention for the inter-zone round."
In the other games in the group, Grange Hill will be gunning for full points against the out of contention Knockalva High in their game at Belle Isle Community Centre in Westmore-land, while the struggling Cambridge and Merlene Ottey will do battle in Cambridge.
In Zone C, runaway group leader and early qualifier Godfrey Stewart High (16) look a safe bet to upstage third place Petersfield (6). Second place Mannings (8) will be at home to Black River (6), which share third place with Petersfield.
With front-runners Brown's Town (18) and third place Cedric Titus (14) inactive, second place Ocho Rios (15) will be seeking to improve their standing in the competitive Zone D when they play away to bottom place Aabuthnott Gallimore. Fourth place Marcus Garvey (13) will be seeking to improve their lot when they host fifth place York Castle (8).
Over in Zone E, runaway group leader St. Elizabeth Technical High School (18) will be home to second place Munro College (10) in the feature game in the group.
Newell and Balaclava, who are still both searching for their best form, will meet in the other game in the group.
TODAY'S GAMES
Zone F
| Bellefield | vs | Manchester |
| DeCarteret | vs | Belair |
Zone G
| Porus | vs | Knox |
| Christiana | vs | Spalding |
Zone H
| Denbigh | vs | Clarendon College |
| Kellits | vs | Thompson Town |
| Edwin Allen | vs | Lennon |
Zone I
| Glenmuir | vs | Central |
| Bustamante | vs | Kemps Hill |
Group J
| Dinthill | vs | Charlemont |
| McGrath | vs | Ewarton |
| Old Harbour | vs | Glengoffe |
Group K
| Annotto Bay | vs | St. Mary High |
| St. Mary Tech | vs | Iona |
| Islington | vs | Tacky |
Group L (b)
Seaforth vs Robert Lightbourne
St. Thomas Tech vs Yallahs
