Paul Clarke, Star Writer

Western Bureau:

Five schools could this afternoon cement their place in the Inter-Zone round of the 2013 ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup Schoolboy Football Competition, with four of the five on the brink of capturing zone honours and a place in the Ben Francis Knockout.

But while those schools are enjoying themselves, defending champions Glenmuir are bogged down in a keen tussle for Zone M supremacy on 7 points, after suffering a first loss in ten years to Denbigh High on Saturday. Garvey Maceo are next on 5 points, with Denbigh third on 4. Bustamante has 3 points in last place.

While the battle of attrition wears on in that zone, their former coach Patrick 'Jackie' Walters is enjoying his time over at Clarendon College. The former champions remain one of few teams yet to be defeated, and lead Zone H on 15 points. A win over Thompson Town this afternoon would see them moving to 18 points and earn an automatic qualifying spot in the Inter-Zone round and a Ben Francis Cup berth.

Munro could also book a spot in the next round with a win over Newell, who they hammered 6-0 in the first round. The Andrew Edwards-coached school have amassed 16 points, after putting away Balaclava 6-0 last time out. They share the lead with rivals STETHS (also on 16 points).

No other school has found the back of the net more than STETHS this season, 31 times, scoring on average 5.1 goals per game, while conceding 3. This afternoon they take the field against Maggotty, all but certain of a win to make qualification to the next round safe. The honour of being zone winners will not be resolved until October 12, when both schools play their final fixture.

Manchester High have 16 points, and could qualify as zone winners if they get the better of third-place team B.B. Coke (9 points).

Zone I leaders, Marcus Garvey (15 points), fresh off a timely 1-0 win over rival Cedric Titus on Saturday, could be in line to sealing an Inter-Zone berth, when they tackle York Castle High at home, where a win will take them to an unassailable 18 points.