Ocho Rios, Kemps Hill kick off Ben Francis with big wins

Ocho Rios High and Kemps Hill High scored identical 9-0 wins as the expanded ISSA Ben Francis Cup competition got underway on Friday. Allyja Blythe led Ocho Rios High with four goals as they hammered hapless Little London High in the second game of a double-header at Drax Hall in St Ann. Kemps Hill over ran Cross Keys High in their game at Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon. Ocho Rios High led 4-0 at half-time as Little London were forced to substitute goalkeeper Orlando Reid after he suffered what appeared to be a head injury late in the first half and was rushed to a medical facility. Blythe was supported by national junior representative Dario James who scored a late hat-trick. In the first game of the double-header, Porus High outscored Ferncourt High 5-3 to book their place in next weekend’s second round of the Ben Francis Cup. At Kirkvine, Christiana High defeated Fair Prospect High 4-0 with Javaunie Simpson and Lakeem Mullings scoring two goals each. The first round is to continues this afternoon with another 24 games, with many-time champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Cornwall College and Glenmuir High among those set to take the field. STETHS, who won the competition six times between 2010 and 2015, and again in 2024, host 2018 champions Charlemont High in the second game of a double-header at STETHS Complex in Santa Cruz. Cornwall College, last season’s beaten finalists, will be home to Troy High in Montego Bay. Glenmuir High, who won their seventh title in 2022, are set to take on Muschett High in May Pen. Rusea’s High will still be smarting from their 2-4 loss to Frome Technical in the daCosta Cup Zone B game in Lucea on Tuesday, and will hope to take out their frustration on the Hector Wright-coached Spot Valley High.

Craig Butler, the Rusea’s High coach, had taken the blame for Tuesday’s loss. He will expect his team, that has scored 21 goals in four daCosta Cup games, to respond with a win. Frome will be boosted by their big win, and head coach Cleighton Stephens will welcome back Romario Clarke and Tisaun Rankine for what could be a close game against visitors Brown’s Town High. Clarke and Rankine had missed the game against Rusea’s High after they were sent off in a 0-0 draw against Petersfield High last Saturday. Jovaunnie Whyte obliged with a double and Wayne Mullings scored his third of the season to seal their comeback win. Brown’s Town have got off to a fast start, winning three games and drawing the other. They have scored 31 goals, the majority of them coming from Jamaal Johnson and Javier Henry. Lacovia High and Belair High will meet for the second time in less than a week. Lacovia won their daCosta Cup Zone D game 3-0 on Wednesday and will hope for another win. — Paul A Reid   FRIDAY’S RESULTS Ferncourt 3, Porus 5 Ocho Rios 9, Little London 0 Kemps Hill 9, Cross Keys 0 Christiana 4, Fair Prospect 0   SATURDAY’S GAMES Maggotty vs Foga Road @ STETHS (2:00 pm)

Craig Butler, Rusea’s High coachPhoto: Joseph Wellington

STETHS vs Charlemont @ STETHS (4:15 pm) Paul Bogle vs Holmwood @ Paul Bogle Manchester vs Lennon @ Manchester Titchfield vs Black River @ Carder Park Rusea’s vs Spot Valley @ Colin Miller Complex Frome vs Brown’s @ Frome William Knibb vs Bellefield @ William Knibb Denbigh vs Yallahs @ Denbigh Manning’s vs Marcus Garvey @ Manning’s St Mary High vs Edwin Allen @ Highgate Centre Morant Bay vs St James @ Morant Bay McGrath vs Horace Clarke @ McGrath High

Cleighton Stephens, Frome Technical head coach

Central vs Vere @ Effortville Centre Cornwall vs Troy @ Cornwall Knox vs Green Island @ Kirkvine Dinthill vs deCarteret @ Dinthill Petersfield vs Herbert Morrison @ Petersfield Complex Glenmuir vs Muschett @ Glenmuir York Castle vs Knockalva @ York Castle Cedric Titus vs Cambridge @ Cedric Titus Alphansus Davis vs May Day @ Alphansus Davis Belair vs Lacovia @ Church Teachers’ College Garvey Maceo vs Mile Gully @ Garvey Maceo (Games to start 3:00 pm unless otherwise stated)