Adrian Frater, News Editor

Weston Burnett (front right) of Anchovy High School dribbles away from Merlene Ottey's Delroy Dunn during yesterday's ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup game at Jarrett Park. Merlene Ottey won 2-1. - Adrian Frater photo

Western Bureau

Eight-time champions Rusea's High maintained top form in the 2008 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup when they registered a big 5-1 win over Knockalva in their Zone B fixture at Knockalva yesterday.

Rusea's, which started the season with a 6-0 spanking of Merlene Ottey, got their goals through striker Godfrey Cunningham, who scored a hat-trick, and skipper Damain Thompson and Roydell Moncrieffe.

"I can't get too excited about this win because Knockalva are one of the weaker teams in the zone," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams, whose team has now taken over the lead in the zone from newcomers Hopewell High. "My one disappointment is that ISSA is allowing schoolboy football to be played on the Knockalva field."

In another Zone B match at Jarrett Park, Merlene Ottey rebounded from their heavy loss against Rusea's with a 2-1 win over the previously unbeaten Anchovy High at Jarrett Park. Garen Downie (penalty) and Kedar Graham got the goals for Merlene Ottey.

"I am happy for the win but I believe we could have done better because we got the chances," said Xavier Mitchell, the coach of the Merlene Ottey team. "With this win, we are now looking to improve our performance with each game."

In a game which was exciting in patches, Merlene Ottey took the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute when an Anchovy defender was penalised for handling the ball. Downie made no mistake from the spot to make the half-time score 1-0.

After the break, Merlene Ottey doubled their lead in the 61st minute. Graham capitalised on a defensive error to easily fire home.

With time running out, Anchovy, which previously had 1-0 wins against Frome and Knockalva, got their consolation goal from Dave Lee, who scored with a spectacular header from a superb Jason Plummer cross.

The competition will continue this afternoon with seven games, three in Zone A and four in Zone K. Among the teams that will be on show are former champions Cornwall College with four points going up against surprise Zone A leaders Maldon High (seven) on their home turf at Cornwall College.

St James High (four), another of the Zone A heavyweights, will be hunting their second win of the season at the expense of newcomers Spot Valley High, who took a point off Irwin High in their last game.

Yesterday's results

Zone B

Rusea's bt Knockalva 5-1

Merlene Ottey bt Anchovy 2-1

Frome bt Green Island 4-1

Zone D

Cedric Titus bt Ocho Rios 1-0

Brown's Town bt Marcus Garvey 1-0

Zone E

Lacovia bt STETHS 2-1

B.B. Coke vs Balaclava 1-1

Munro bt Maggotty 2-1

Zone H

Rain prevented the playing of the Clarendon College vs Denbigh and

Thompson Town vs Claude McKay games.

Today's games

Zone A

Green Pond vs Herbert Morrison - at Green Pond

Cornwall College vs Maldon - at Cornwall College

St James vs Spot Valley - at Jarrett Park

Zone K

Oracabessa vs St Mary High - at Eden Park

Brimmervale vs Iona - at Brimmervale

St Mary Tech vs Islington - at Richmond Prison Farm

Tacky vs Annotto Bay - at Tacky