Glenmuir, Denbigh in mammoth clash

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

The 2011-12 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition is poised to churn out another offering of good football this afternoon, when the 12-zone competition continues with two potentially intriguing games, one in Zone H and the other in the competitive Zone I.

In the Zone I game, which is expected to generate the most excitement, early inter-zone qualifiers and runaway group leaders, Denbigh High (27 points), will play host to unbeaten second-place Glenmuir High (22), in what promises to be an epic top-of-the-table clash. Glenmuir have played two games fewer than Denbigh.

In Zone H, third-place Clarendon College (23) are poised to surge to the top of the group standing as they are expected to easily conquer the struggling Alston High (one), a team they handed an 11-1 thrashing on Saturday afternoon.

In the face-off between Denbigh and Glenmuir, the unbeaten Patrick 'Jackie' Walters-coached Glenmuir, based on their first round 2-0 win against Denbigh, should start favourites. However, with an impressive nine wins and one defeat in 10 games, Denbigh are definitely not the type of opponent to be slighted.

In fact, with the pressure of qualifying for the inter-zone round off their back, Denbigh should be able to play without the anxiety associated with a pressure game.

Unbeaten

While Glenmuir are unbeaten, Denbigh have the distinction of being the zone's most prolific team with 39 goals, 11 more than Glenmuir. However, Glenmuir have a superior defensive record to Denbigh, conceding five goals to their opponents' seven.

It should be noted that should Glenmuir win today and move to 25 points, they will move within a point of joining Denbigh in the inter-zone round as Garvey Maceo (19), the only team in a position to stop them from making the inter-zone, can accumulate no more than 25 points.

With the second round of the competition now on in earnest, four teams have already booked their place in the inter-zone phase. The qualifiers are champions Rusea's from Zone B; Denbigh High from Zone I; St Elizabeth Technical High School from Zone F and St Mary Technical from Zone D.