Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Action in the ISSA/ Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup football competition heats up today with 28 games across 12 zones, a number of which have significant implications for teams looking to move forward.

Three points for Manning's against Little London will see them leading Zone D with 13, and coach Aaron Lawrence feels that 19 points will be good enough to win the zone.

"We are working on it. We think that winning against Little London will position us at a place where if we win our three remaining matches we will win the zone and qualify for the Ben Francis Cup," said Lawrence.

In their last encounter, Manning's easily beat former champions Godfrey Stewart 4-1, but are still trailing Grange Hill by a point, while one of the competition's favourites, Petersfield High, sit in third place on nine points.

'A game at a time'

"We'll take it a game at a time, but we are keeping an eye on the inter-zone because our players have been playing quite well. If we do this in the rest of our games, no doubt we will win the zone. After that any number can play," Lawrence observed.

For Zone O front-runners Paul Bogle (14 points), they tackle lowly Morant Bay with a win on their mind to gather momentum heading into an even more crucial clash, against second-place team St Thomas Technical on Saturday.

Paul Bogle are one of few teams unbeaten in the competition and have scored 24 goals without conceding, a testament to their strong back four. Leading the goalscoring charge for the Richard Williams-coached team are outstanding strikers Jahiem Duncan, who has seven goals to his name so far, and national Under-20 player Alvas Powell with six.

Meanwhile, St Thomas Technical (12 points) will take the fight to Seaforth, while Yallahs battle Robert Lightbourne.

Today's Matches

Zone A

Maldon vs Green Pond

Zone C

Spot Valley vs William Knibb

Hopewell vs Holland

Zone D

Petersfield vs Grange Hill

Little London vs Manning's

Zone F

Cross Keys vs Manchester

Bellefield vs BB Coke

Zone H

Clarendon vs Claude McKay

Lennon vs Thompson Town

Zone I

York Castle vs Marcus Garvey

Albert Town vs Cedric Titus

Ocho Rios vs Brown's Town

Zone J

St Mary High vs St Mary Tech

Iona vs Islington

Brimmervale vs Oracabessa

Zone K

Charlemont vs Tacky

McGrath vs Dinthill

Ewarton vs Bog Walk

Zone L

Fair Prospect vs Titchfield

Buff Bay vs Happy Grove

Zone M

Garvey Maceo vs Porus

Foga Road vs Denbigh

Glenmuir vs Bustamante

Zone N

Tacius Golding vs Kemps Hill

Old Harbour vs Central

Zone O

Paul Bogle vs Morant Bay

Seaforth vs St Thomas

Yallahs vs Robert Lightbourne