Frome and Munro clash in daCosta Cup as R16 race heats up

Former champions Frome Technical and Munro College will meet in a Group 1 top-of-the-table clash, as the race for places in the Round of 16 in the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition picks up intensity. Both are among eight teams that will be seeking a third-straight win in the second round, a result that would see them edge closer to qualification for the next round. Frome Technical, who are coming off a 7-0 thrashing of Holmwood Technical at home last week, will be seeking to avenge their 5-0 loss to Munro College in the second round of the Ben Francis Cup. Lacovia High, Kemps Hill High, McGrath High, Ocho Rios High, Clarendon College, and Manning’s School have also won their first two games. Meanwhile, newly-crowned Ben Francis Cup champions Glenmuir High as well as former champions Dinthill Technical and Cornwall College will be seeking to rebound from their most recent games, where they failed to get three points. There are six teams in each of the six groups. The top two in each will gain automatic qualification, with the other four spots being taken by the top four best third-placed teams. Frome Technical followed up their 1-0 win over Irwin High with a spanking of Holmwood to lead the group on goal-difference over Munro College, who are coming off a big morale-boosting 2-1 win over defending champions St Elizabeth Technical, after getting by Holmwood Technical by the same score in their opening second-round game. Frome Technical will hope playing at home will give them an edge but Munro College has been firing on all cylinders in the daCosta Cup — perfect so far through nine games, and have scored 45 goals with Kajaye Williams, Izion Frazer and Akel Vesprey leading the way. If Frome are to win today, their defence must be locked in for 90 minutes, while Wayne Mullings, Jovaunnie Whyte and Antwayne Campbell must put the Munro defence under pressure.

Rusea’s High’s Khayden McQueen (centre) lines up a shot as he is being pursued by St James High’s Garnet Gladston in their ISSA daCosta Cup second-round Group 1 game played at Jarrett Park on October 14. Rusea’s won the game 2-0. (Photo: Paul Reid)

Lacovia High are at home to Central High, who held the high-scoring Glenmuir High goalless last week and on form, this could be a crucial game for both teams, with Glenmuir expected to return to winning ways when they visit Ferncourt High, who have lost both games played so far. Kemps Hill are expected to get full points from St Mary High, the same for McGrath High, who scored seven against Titchfield High last week, when they host Morant Bay High. Once again, Ocho Rios High looks set for a deep run in the competition and after beating Dinthill Technical, will be playing away to BB Coke, who have one point from their two games. Clarendon College have outscored their two opponents 8-0 and faces an Edwin Allen High team that beat Christiana High 3-0 to revive their hopes of getting into the next round. Manning’s School are seeking to make up for last season when the effects of Hurricane Melissa interrupted their run to the top four and so far, have looked the part with wins over Rusea’s High and Brown’s Town. They will start as favourites against St James High, who have lost both games played by 2-0 margins. Defending champions St Elizabeth High will be in a must-win game when they take on Irwin High, who are coming off a big win and will be confident playing at home. Rusea’s High and William Knibb Memorial are both coming off wins after losing their opening games and will meet at the Collin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea and both will seek to extend their winning run. Conversely, both Brown’s Town High and Cornwall College are coming off losses and must win when they meet at York Castle High, if they are to keep their hopes alive. Manchester High are also hoping to rebound after they were beaten at home by Clarendon College and will be away to Lennon High, who have one point after two games.