Munro in must-win derby clash today

Western Bureau:

Three points or nothing; that is the simple equation for Andrew Edwards and his Munro College players, as they seek to hitch a ride to the inter-zone round of the 2014 ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup Football Competition today against arch-rivals and Group E leaders St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS).

Munro's inconsistency all throughout the group phase of the competition has left them down in third place, chasing the already qualified defending champions STETHS, and Lacovia High.

Lacovia (19 points) continue to show strong signs of their new pedigree, but are just slightly better off than Munro on 17 points from nine matches. STETHS have so far logged 25 points from their nine matches, winning eight with drawing one.

interesting plot

STETHS have been sailing so far, but a win for Munro is never out of the question when these two powerhouse teams meet, and with the dynamics not exactly how coach Edwards would have envisaged, it adds yet another interesting plot to their long rivalry heading into the day's contest.

Omar Wedderburn, the STETHS coach, told The Gleaner that his approach will not change in spite of Munro's perceived hot and cold season so far, but that it makes this renewal of one of the longest running daCosta Cup rivalries that more intense.

"They know what they need to advance and we know what we want to accomplish, so on that note, it is clear the match is going to be very exciting," Wedderburn said.

"It is a very important match for both schools, we want to make sure we remain unbeaten with inter-zone around the corner. This is our dress rehearsal for the next round and it is a serious game for us," he said.

When the sides met on September 20 in Santa Cruz, the result was a 0-0 stalemate, but this time around Edwards' team can ill-afford another draw, as only a win will qualify them directly.

Key Match

The other key match in the group will see Lacovia tackling BB Coke and they too must win in order to stave off Munro's late charge in order to nail down the qualifying spot.

Frome have already qualified from Group B, leaving Rusea's (9) and Green Island (6) in a keen tussle for the other available spot and today's fixture against Merlene Ottey clearly should benefit the Green Islanders. Rusea's battle Frome and need only a point from the match to be sure of advancing.

n Irwin vs Cornwall

n St James vs Anchovy

n Merlene Ottey vs Green Island

n Rusea's vs Frome

n Muschett vs Spot Valley

n Herbert Morrison vs William Knibb

n Grange Hill vs Black River

n Godfrey Stewart vs Manning's

n Munro vs STETHS

n Newell vs Maggotty

n Lacovia vs B.B. Coke

n Belair vs DeCarteret

n Cross Keys vs Manchester

n Christiana vs Knox

n Alston vs Spalding

n Clarendon vs Lennon

n Edwin Allen vs Claude McKay

n Islington vs Oracabessa

n Iona vs St Mary High

n Brimmervale vs St Mary Tech

n Ewarton vs McGrath

n Fair Prospect vs Port Antonio

n Titchfield vs Happy Grove

n Porus vs Bustamante

n Garvey Maceo vs Glenmuir

n Central High vs Kemps Hill

n Tacius Golding vs Old Harbour

n Foga Road vs Vere

n Morant Bay vs Seaforth

n Paul Bogle vs Robert Lightnourne

All matches begin at 3:30 p.m.