Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
ST JAMES High and Maldon continue to lead the way in Zone A of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup as both won yesterday in Montego Bay.
In their game against struggling Herbert Morrison, leaders St James High ran out comfortable 5-2 winners behind goals from Ajohn Barker (two), skipper Fabian McHarty, Allan Ottey and Ricardo Morris, while Maldon clipped Green Pond 3-2 behind goals from Jermaine Jackson (two) and Obrian Robinson.
By virtue of yesterday's results, St James have now jumped to 20 points while Maldon are second on 15. Many-time champions Cornwall College, who were inactive yesterday, seem in some bother as they are off the pace in third on 11 points.
"It was not a clinical St James High today as we had some lapses in defence and gave up two goals, but we are nonetheless thankful for our win," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of St James High. "We will have to go back to the drawingboard to put things right because we don't want to be giving up two goals in any game," Solomon said.
Meanwhile, Rusea's widened their lead in Zone B, clipping Green Island 1-0 to move to 18 points. Frome also drove some momentum into their campaign, blanking Hopewell High 5-0 to avenge their first-round 2-1 loss and consolidate second place in the group on 16 points.
"It was a tougher game than we anticipated but the good thing is that we got all three points," said Rusea's coach, Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "Our mission is to take every single point we can."
Tense battle
In the very competitive Zone I, where champions Garvey Maceo, Glenmuir and Old Harbour are locked in a tense battle for both the group's Ben Francis Cup Knockout slot and the two inter-zone places, all three teams came out winners.
Leaders Glenmuir scored five goals for a second straight game to brush aside Tacius Golding 5-1 and move up to 16 points. Old Harbour, who sit comfortably in second place, clipped Kemps Hill 1-0 to slide up to 14 points while the champions climbed up to 12 points following a 4-0 spanking of Central High.
In Zone C, where the teams are struggling to find their footing, Grange Hill joined former champions Godfrey Stewart atop the group on eight points following their 1-0 win against Manning's. Troy Todd got the lone goal from the penalty spot.
Yesterday's Results
Zone A: St. James 5 Herbert Morrison 2, Irwin 2 Spot Valley 0, Maldon 3 Green Pond 1.Zone B: Frome 5 Hopewell 0, Anchovy 2 Knockalva 1, Rusea's 2 Green Island 0.Zone C: Grange Hill 1 Mannings 0.Zone I: Garvey Maceo 4 Central 0, Old Harbour 1 Kemps Hill 0, Glenmuir 5 Tacius Golding 1.
