Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Should they win or draw today, Zone A front-runner St James High will not only become the group's first qualifier for the inter-zone round of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup, but should the results of the other games in the group work in their favour, they could also cop the lone Ben Francis Knock Out slot.

Unbeaten after nine games with an imposing record of seven wins and two draws, the St James High team will be at home to out-of-contention Irwin at Jarrett Park in one of three games in the group. In the first round matchup between the teams, St James High spanked Irwin 4-0 on their home turf.

First objective

"Our first objective is to defend our unbeaten record and then see what will fall in place after that," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the St James High team.

"Our goal at the start of the season was to qualify for both the inter-zone and the Ben Francis and we are on target for both."

While St James High (23) will be looking to cross the inter-zone border, 11-time champions Cornwall College, third on 17 points, and second-place Maldon High (18), who are locked in a tense battle for the group's second inter-zone place, should be on pins and needles in their games against out-of-contention opponents, Herbert Morrison and Spot Valley.

While both Cornwall College and Maldon are expected to win, based on their first-round results, which saw Cornwall College clipping Herbert Morrison 2-1 and Maldon outplaying Spot Valley in a 1-1 draw, any faltering on the path of either teams could see their inter-zone aspirations coming to an abrupt end.

"Our fate is in our own hands," said Dr Dean Weatherley, coach of the Cornwall College team. "We need to win our three games, including our game against Maldon High on their home turf, where they are yet to lose this season."

In nine games to date, Cornwall College have five wins, two draws and two defeats while scoring 16 goals and conceding five. Maldon, who have played one game more, have five wins, three draws and two defeats. They have scored 16 goals and given up 11.

Chasing points

"We just want to get the three points from Spot Valley on Monday and then you will see what is going to happen," warned Maldon's coach Loren Sailsman. "We are confident of winning at home against Cornwall College and then moving on to the inter-zone round."

In Zone L, which features both sections L(a) and L(b) in the first phase of the preliminary round, the real battle for the group's two inter-zone places will begin today with first-leg games in the four-team play-off, featuring the two top teams from L(a) and L(b).

Happy Grove, which won section L(a) will meet Paul Bogle, the second-place finisher in L(b), at Happy Grove; while St Thomas Technical, the winner of L(b), will battle Fair Prospect, the runners-up in L(a) at Phillips Oval. The winners on aggregate after the return games will advance to the inter-zone round.

TODAY'S GAMES

Zone A

Herbert Morrison vs Cornwall College at Bogue

St James vs Irwin at Jarrett Park

Maldon vs Spot Valley at Maldon

Zone L (play-off)

Happy Grove vs Paul Bogle at Happy Grove

S Thomas Technical vs Fair Prospect at Phillips Field