Top teams target semi-finals

Western Bureau:

Champions Rusea's High, former champions Glenmuir High and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS); and surprise package Paul Bogle High School are all in line to seal semi-final places once they secure positive results in today's second-round quarter-final games in the 2011 ISSA/Gatorade/ Digicel daCosta Cup.

In Group Two, first-round winners Rusea's and Paul Bogle will face-off in a top of the table clash at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay; while in the group's second game, first-round losers Grange Hill and Petersfield will both be seeking to resurrect their campaign when they meet in the opening game of a Frome Sports Ground double-header.

In Group One, first-round winners, reigning Ben Francis Cup champions STETHS and Glemuir, will face-off against first-round losers Cedric Titus High and Frome Technical High School at Drax Hall, in St Ann; and at the Frome Sports Ground, in Westmoreland, respectively.

Yet to be beaten in open play this season, champions Rusea's, despite the absence of inspirational captain and midfield stalwart Nicodie Haughton, who was red-carded in the team's last game, should start favourites against Paul Bogle. However, fresh from their 2-0 win against Petersfield on Monday, the St Thomas team will not be intimidated.

"Haughton (Nicodie) will be missed but we will just have to make the necessary adjustment to compensate for his absence," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "We are confident just the same."

While both Rusea's and Paul Bogle are blessed with an abundance of gifted young players, all eyes should be on Rusea's ace marksman Brian 'Brown' Brown, who has been churning out goals with alarming regularity and has scored 32 goals to date.

The Grange Hill and Petersfield clash will be a do-or-die affair for the teams as neither can afford to lose. In their campaign in Zone E of the competition's preliminary round, Grange Hill defeated Petersfield 2-0 in their first-round clash, while Petersfield won the return game 1-0.

Glenmuir looking more ominous

In Group One, Glenmuir who upstaged Cedric Titus 4-1 in their first-round game, should start favourites against Frome Technical High School, albeit playing in their backyard at the Frome Sports Ground. Glenmuir are looking more ominous with each game, especially when top strikers Noel Johnson and the Paul Wilson are in full cry.

However, with the quest to emulate their 2003 championship success as a source of inspiration, and familiar conditions an added source of motivation, the Frome Technical team is expected to throw caution to the wind when they face Glenmuir.

In the group's second game, the Andrew Edwards-coached STETHS team, which is gunning to add the daCosta Cup title to their Ben Francis Cup title, which they won earlier this season, should face a tricky assignment against Cedric Titus, who really have nothing to lose.

"We played quite well against Frome and we will be looking for a similar performance against Cedric Titus," said STETHS' coach Edwards. "We are ready for this game."

However, with a chance to prove the pundits wrong, the Wade Crawford-coached Cedric Titus could report with all guns blazing in the hope of blunting STETHS' ambition.

TODAY'S GAMES

Group One

Cedric Titus vs STETHS - Drax Hall - 3 p.m.

Frome vs Glenmuir - Frome Sports Ground - 3 p.m.

Group Two

Petersfield vs Grange Hill - Frome Sports Ground - 1 p.m.

Rusea's vs Paul Bogle - Jarrett Park - 1 p.m.