d’Cup western battle
MALDON, St James – Two teams, one spot. That is the equation as former champions St James High and Anchovy High seek the only available place from western Jamaica in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition.
Of the four western zones, just one automatic spot is left to be filled — the runner-up spot in Zone A which was won by 12-time champions Cornwall College.
St James High, the 2008 champions, and Anchovy High — who are bidding for their second qualification from the first round – are both gunning for that one place in the 32- team second round that will be played between October 17 and 20.
Defending champions Rusea’s High ran out easy winners of Zone B with Frome Technical securing their place on Tuesday; Cedric Titus won Zone C, with Herbert Morrison Technical joining them after qualifying for the second round for only the second time in 12 years, on Monday. On Tuesday, Petersfield High won Zone B with Little London High joining them in the second round.
Today Anchovy High, who are coming off a big 4-1 win over Green Pond on Monday, will try to keep their slim hopes alive when they take on Maldon High in a rescheduled game.
Anchovy High, who are on 12 points, face Irwin High in their last game on Saturday when the first round ends. They are five points behind St James High, who play Green Pond on the same day.
Anchovy are bidding to get back to the second round for the first time since 2001 they when they played in Zone B, but must win their two remaining games and hope St James High do not win on Saturday.
Meanwhile, three of the four zone winners — defending champions Rusea’s High, Cornwall College and Petersfield — are unbeaten so far.
Herbert Morrison Technical who got off to a poor start, losing their first two games before getting back into contention with a four-game winning run, secured their first second round berth in three years with a 1-1 draw against Holland High.