Former champions clash in crucial daCosta Cup battle

WHEN the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition resumes today, several teams will be looking to strengthen their positions in the preliminary round, with matches set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. across the island.

In Zone A, two former champions, Herbert Morrison Technical and St James High, will clash at the Herbert Morrison playing field in what should be a keenly contested encounter.

Fresh from a 1-0 victory over Muschett High in their season-opening match, St James High coach Brian Stone said his team has been working on defensive adjustments ahead of the tougher challenge.

“We are going to have to shut down the midfield players a lot more than how we played on Tuesday. We have to be very defensive on the field. We have the clips that the players sat and watched, so we came up with something for today to manage the game.

“Hopefully, we will see if we can come up with another three points, which would be very good against our upcoming opponent, which is expected to present a more difficult challenge than the previous game,” he added.

St. James are in third in Zone A on three points, behind second-place Herbert Morrison on four points and leaders Irwin High, who have six points.

Elsewhere in St James, Cambridge High will host Muschett at Jarrett Park in a battle between two teams searching for their first victory of the campaign.

Cambridge assistant head coach Dane Isaacs told STAR Sports that the quick turnaround will limit the amount of preparation the team can do ahead of the encounter.

“It is a limited time to work on anything in terms of preparation. The main objective is obviously creating more chances and putting them away,” said Isaacs.

Cambridge are fifth in Zone A on one point, while Muschett sit at the bottom without a point.

For Muschett head coach David Swaby, however, the objective is clear, that is to win. Swaby stressed the need for greater effort from his players as they seek to get their campaign back on track.

“We just need to work on more attacking plays to score more goals, and I think we can get a win out of this game,” he said.

Today’s games

Frome vs Petersfield at Frome

Green Island vs Rusea’s at Green Island

Walkerswood Academy vs Discovery Bay at Drax Hall

Cambridge vs Muschett at Jarrett Park

Spot Valley vs Green Pond at Spot Valley

Herbert Morrison vs St James at Herbert Morrison

B.B Coke vs Belair at B.B Coke

Ferncourt vs York Castle at Drax Hall

deCarteret vs Lacovia at deCarteret

Mt St Joseph Catholic vs Munro at Mt St Joseph

Black River vs Lewisville at Black River

Foga Road vs Porus High at Foga

Mile Gully vs Vere Technical at Mile Gully Comm. Centre

May Day High vs Cross Keys at May Day

Alston High vs Knox College at Kirkvine Sports Club

Tacius Golding vs Central High at Ministry of Education Region 6 playing field.

Wycliffe Martin vs Iona at Wycliffe Martin

Kellits High vs Charlemont at Morant Housing Scheme

Denbigh vs Lennon at Denbigh

Winston Jones vs Bellefield at Winston Jones

Brown’s Town vs Cedric Titus at Brown’s Town

Grange Hill vs Little London at Grange Hill Comm. Centre