Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The 2007 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup, which has already churned out almost a month of excitement, inclusive of some 480 goals, will move into the return phase of its preliminary round today with 31 games across all 13 competing groups, each starting at 3:30 p.m.

With champions Glenmuir on a break today, the games to watch should be the ones featuring former champions Clarendon College, Cornwall College, Frome Tech-nical and Rusea's, the team being touted by the pundits as top-flight title contenders.

Room for improvement

With a 100 per cent win record from their six first-round games in Zone H, the red-hot Garfield Robinson-coached Clarendon College look a safe bet to improve on their first round 8-0 spanking of struggling Claude McKay. In fact, for brag-ging rights, they could well be aiming to better second place Lennon's (12) 12-goal rout of this same opponent.

"There is still a lot of room for improvement in my team," said Robinson, in the aftermath of his team's 6-0 win against Kellits in their last game. "I am expecting this team to get better with each game."

Cornwall, fresh from their 3-1 win against the previously unbeaten St. James High, which took them to the top of Zone A with 12 points, are now hitting top form and according to coach Dr. Dean Weatherley, a quality performance is expected against struggling William Knibb, which they defeated 2-0 in the first round.

"The boys are getting it together on the pitch and when that is happening you can't ask more of them," said Dr. Weatherley, in praising the efforts of national Under-21 player Edward Campbell and his team-mates. "I think they are exactly where I would want them to be at this time."

In Zone B, where Frome (15) are currently sporting a 100 per cent win record from five games and second place Rusea's, on nine points with an outstanding game, are both looking ominous, their games featuring the 'Russians against fourth place Merlene Ottey (6) and Frome against fifth place Cambridge (4) should be closely watched as the race for the zone's lone Ben Francis Knock Out slot heats up.

Epic clash

The Zone E top of the table clash between St. Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) on 12 points and Munro 13 should be an epic clash as while Munro will be gunning to extend their lead and preserve their unbeaten record, STETHS will be hell-bent on avenging their first round 0-3 defeat.

"Our first objective is to top the zone," said Munro's coach Hopeton Gilchrist. "We know what we are capable of doing and our aim is to go out and show what we can do."

Today's Games

Zone A: William Knibb vs Cornwall at Martha Brae, Herbert Morrison vs Anchovy at Bogue, St. James vs Irwin at Jarrett Park

Zone B: Cambridge vs Frome at Cambridge, Rusea's vs Merlene Ottey in Lucea, Knockalva vs Green Island at Knockalva

Zone C: Mannings vs Godfrey Stewart at Mannings, Grange Hill vs Petersfield at Grange Hill, Maud McLeod vs Little London at Maud McLeod

Zone D: Marcus Garvey vs York Castle at Drax Hall, Brown's Town vs A. Gallimore at Addison Park, Cedric Titus vs Ocho Rios at Cedric Titus.

Zone E: STETHS vs Munro at STETHS, Lacovia vs Black River at Lacovia

Zone F: Decarteret vs Manchester at Decarteret; Belair vs Bellefield at Belair

Zone G: Knox vs Holmwood at Knox, Spalding vs Christiana at Spalding

Zone H: Vere vs Lennon at Vere, Kellits vs Denbigh at Kellits, Claude McKay vs Clarendon at Claude McKay

Zone I: Tacius Golding vs Old Harbour at Tacius Golding, Bustamante vs Central at Bustamante

Zone J: McGrath vs Charlemont at McGrath, Dinthill vs Gengoffe at Dinthill, Ewarton vs Bog Walk at Ewarton

Zone K: Tacky vs Brimmervale at Tacky, Annotto Bay vs St. Mary High at Annotto Bay, Oracabessa vs St. Mary Tech at Rio Nuevo, Islington vs Iona at Islington

Zone L (a): Titchfield vs Port Antonio at Titchfield, Fair prospect vs Happy Grove at Fair Prospect; Zone L (b):- Seaforth vs St. Thomas Tech. at Seaforth, Paul Bogle vs Morant Bay at Paul Bogle.