STETHS captain Rushane McClymont goes airborne as he attempts an acrobatic shot at goal, while Munro College midfielder Mark Parchment (right) looks to block the ball, during the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup Zone E football match at Munro College, Malvern, St Elizabeth, on Saturday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. - Paul Clarke

Western Bureau:

Manning's School coach Aaron Lawrence expects his team to move up a gear after their impressive 7-0 win over Knockalva Technical in the ISSA/LIME last Saturday.

"That was an important win. We now believe we can do something special," he said. "

But if that was a wake-up call, they will have to be wide-eyed and vigilant when they take on Zone D leaders Grange Hill this afternoon in a big clash to determine who will lead the zone entering the return matches starting at the weekend.

"We have just started the competition," said Lawrence, in reference to Saturday's victory.

Coached by Dane Warren, Grange Hill have impressed many with their skilful, incisive brand of football and are leaders of the zone with nine points. Manning's are next on four points, the same as former champions Godfrey Stewart High School.

breaching defence

"Our game plan is to try and keep things tight and compact in defence, while taking our chances at the other end. We know that Grange Hill are a dangerous bunch, so we want to make sure we keep them from breaching our defence," Lawrence noted.

Top strikers Melvin Blair and Romario Pesso finally found their goal scoring form against Knockalva and Lawrence is keen to have them scoring against a Grange Hill side, which has conceded just one goal.

Former champions Rusea's (five points) are in line to go third in Zone B, when they play Cambridge. This should take them above Green Island (six points), while St Elizabeth Technical could temporarily claim sole leadership of Zone E if they defeat Newell High to go to 12 points, three more than Munro College who are idle today.

In Zone N, the unbeaten Vere Technical (seven points) will look to extend their lead when they play lightweights Foga Road, while third place Central High tackle Kemps Hill.

Today's matches

Zone A

Anchovy vs Maldon

Green Pond vs St James High

Zone B

Cambridge vs Rusea's

Zone C

Spot Valley vs Muschett

Zone D

Knockalva vs Godfrey Stewart

Grange Hill vs Manning's

Zone E

Newell vs STETHS

Zone F

DeCarteret vs Mile Gully

B.B. Coke vs Bellefield

Zone G

Christiana vs Holmwood

Spalding vs Knox

Zone H

Edwin Allen vs Lennon High

Claude McKay vs Thompson Town

Zone I

Cedric Titus vs York Castle

Zone J

Iona vs St Mary Tech

Zone K

Dinthill vs Charlemont

Bog Walk vs Tacky High

Zone N

Foga Road vs Vere Tech

Central High vs Kemps Hill

All games start at 3 p.m.