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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Key clashes highlight Inter-Zone round</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>FOOTBALL - ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Saturday, November 04, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>MONTEGO BAY - Two top of the zone clashes will highlight this afternoon's second set of matches in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup Inter-Zone round as 10 schools seek their second straight win.<P class=StoryText align=justify>A number of schools could even secure places in the quarter-final round today, but their progress will depend on other results in their group.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Only the six group winners are certain to advance to the top eight, while the other two places will come from the best two second-placed teams. Teams that failed to win on Wednesday must go after goals as places could be decided on tie-breakers in case teams end up on the same points.
Ben Francis Knockout champions Frome Technical High and Ocho Rios High, winners in Wednesday's first round, will meet at Frome in Group Two, while Charlemont and Titchfield, both on three points each, will meet at Dinthill in a Group Six game.
Despite looking the better team on Wednesday by playing the ball around at will, Frome had to wait until the 80th minute to crack a stubborn Herbert Morrison Technical defence. Today against a confident Ocho Rios team, they will need to be more decisive in their finishing.
The midfield of national Under-20 player Delano Rankine, Obrian Woodbine and Demar Howard was outstanding, but strikers Sedane McCreath and Kesrick Samuels failed to make full use of their opportunities.
At home, however, they are expected to step up their game a notch.
Ocho Rios will be facing their third straight team from Westmoreland. They lost to Petersfield in the first round of the Ben Francis KO then beat Grange Hill in an ill-tempered game that saw referee Desmond Ranger issuing five red cards at Drax Hall on Wednesday.
Frome are the best of the lot, but Ocho Rios will fancy their chances after scoring four goals against Grange Hill.
Ocho Rios will be without midfielder Rodane Higgins, who was sent off against Grange Hill, but coach Teridene Grant will be able to call on Zico Lewis, captain Shavar Brown, Grevon Harris and Davion Green to deliver the goods.
Titchfield will take a psychological edge into their game against Charlemont, having beaten them 3-0 earlier in the second round of the Ben Francis KO. The Andrew Edwards-coached Titchfield scored all three goals in the first half .
Charlemont were big winners on Wednesday, beating Oracabessa 4-0 and will be hell-bent on avenging their loss to Titchfield.
St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), one of the pre-season favourites, hit a bump on Wednesday when they lost 1-3 to Clarendon College. On their home ground, they take on Holmwood today and must win if they are to mount any hope of advancing.
After scoring 36 goals in their first seven matches, STETHS' goal-scoring fizzled to just three in their last three games. They missed out on the Ben Francis KO and lost their first Inter-Zone game.
This will be the first meeting between STETHS and Holmwood since the 2003 season and the latter won that encounter 1-0.
Former champions Rusea's, Glenmuir and Clarendon are all expected to win today and strengthen their chances of going through to the next stage.
Rusea's looked good in patches while building up a big first half lead against William Knibb on Wednesday, but lapsed badly in the second half, allowing the Trelawny school to make a run at them.
However, they should have the edge over Cedric Titus and should win again.
Clarendon College should be bubbling with confidence when they take on DeCarteret at Brooks Park, while Glenmuir, who came from behind to beat Port Antonio, will start favourites to beat Tacky who lost 5-0
<SPAN class=Subheadline>FOOTBALL - ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Saturday, November 04, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>MONTEGO BAY - Two top of the zone clashes will highlight this afternoon's second set of matches in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup Inter-Zone round as 10 schools seek their second straight win.<P class=StoryText align=justify>A number of schools could even secure places in the quarter-final round today, but their progress will depend on other results in their group.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Only the six group winners are certain to advance to the top eight, while the other two places will come from the best two second-placed teams. Teams that failed to win on Wednesday must go after goals as places could be decided on tie-breakers in case teams end up on the same points.
Ben Francis Knockout champions Frome Technical High and Ocho Rios High, winners in Wednesday's first round, will meet at Frome in Group Two, while Charlemont and Titchfield, both on three points each, will meet at Dinthill in a Group Six game.
Despite looking the better team on Wednesday by playing the ball around at will, Frome had to wait until the 80th minute to crack a stubborn Herbert Morrison Technical defence. Today against a confident Ocho Rios team, they will need to be more decisive in their finishing.
The midfield of national Under-20 player Delano Rankine, Obrian Woodbine and Demar Howard was outstanding, but strikers Sedane McCreath and Kesrick Samuels failed to make full use of their opportunities.
At home, however, they are expected to step up their game a notch.
Ocho Rios will be facing their third straight team from Westmoreland. They lost to Petersfield in the first round of the Ben Francis KO then beat Grange Hill in an ill-tempered game that saw referee Desmond Ranger issuing five red cards at Drax Hall on Wednesday.
Frome are the best of the lot, but Ocho Rios will fancy their chances after scoring four goals against Grange Hill.
Ocho Rios will be without midfielder Rodane Higgins, who was sent off against Grange Hill, but coach Teridene Grant will be able to call on Zico Lewis, captain Shavar Brown, Grevon Harris and Davion Green to deliver the goods.
Titchfield will take a psychological edge into their game against Charlemont, having beaten them 3-0 earlier in the second round of the Ben Francis KO. The Andrew Edwards-coached Titchfield scored all three goals in the first half .
Charlemont were big winners on Wednesday, beating Oracabessa 4-0 and will be hell-bent on avenging their loss to Titchfield.
St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), one of the pre-season favourites, hit a bump on Wednesday when they lost 1-3 to Clarendon College. On their home ground, they take on Holmwood today and must win if they are to mount any hope of advancing.
After scoring 36 goals in their first seven matches, STETHS' goal-scoring fizzled to just three in their last three games. They missed out on the Ben Francis KO and lost their first Inter-Zone game.
This will be the first meeting between STETHS and Holmwood since the 2003 season and the latter won that encounter 1-0.
Former champions Rusea's, Glenmuir and Clarendon are all expected to win today and strengthen their chances of going through to the next stage.
Rusea's looked good in patches while building up a big first half lead against William Knibb on Wednesday, but lapsed badly in the second half, allowing the Trelawny school to make a run at them.
However, they should have the edge over Cedric Titus and should win again.
Clarendon College should be bubbling with confidence when they take on DeCarteret at Brooks Park, while Glenmuir, who came from behind to beat Port Antonio, will start favourites to beat Tacky who lost 5-0