Herbert Morrison Technical's captain Romaine Thompson (right) gets between the ball and Maldon High's Conrad Gordon in yesterday's ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup Zone A game played in Montego Bay. Maldon upset Herbert Morrison 2-1. (Photo: Paul Reid)

IRWIN, St James - Iona High scored their biggest win in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup Football competition yesterday after trouncing Islington High 7-0 in their opening Zone K game played at Clemhards Park.

Yesterday's win snapped a six-game losing streak against Islington for Iona, dating back to the 2005 season during which time they managed just one point against them.

The win gave Iona the lead in Zone K on goal difference ahead of Tacky and St Mary Technical, who scored 1-0 wins over Brimmervale and Oracabessa, respectively.

The game between Annotto Bay High and St Mary high was not played as a number of players did not have the official ISSA ID cards.

Meanwhile, in Zone A, 10-man Maldon High celebrated their return to the competition after a one-year absence, scoring their first ever win over former champions Herbert Morrison Technical 2-1 in Montego Bay.

The win took Maldon to the top of the points tables in Zone A and was their first win in the daCosta Cup since upsetting Cornwall College 1-0 in the first round of the 2006 competition.

Jermaine Jackson, who was later sent off after collecting his second yellow card in less then 10 minutes, and O'Brian Robinson scored for Maldon, while Brishnell Dawkins scored for Herbert Morrison.
Jackson gave Maldon the lead in the 55th minute when he converted from the penalty spot after a Herbert Morrison player handled the ball.

Dawkins, however, levelled the scores in the 70th minute when he netted from just outside the Maldon six-yard area.

The celebration from the home team lasted just two minutes, as Robinson beat the Herbert Morrison defence to a ball on the left side and punched it into the goal past goalkeeper Hosani Hirvey.

Robinson was substituted a few minutes later after he picked up a leg injury.

In the other Zone A game played yesterday, newcomers Green Pond and Irwin High played out a 0-0 draw at Irwin.

Meanwhile, three former champions - Frome Technical High, Munro College and St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) will be in action this afternoon as the competition continues with 15 games.

Frome will be away to Anchovy in a Zone B encounter after the home team played in Zone A last season.

Munro College will be away to Balaclava in Zone E, while STETHS, under new coach Andrew Edwards, will host Maggotty.

Other results yesterday
Zone A - Herbert Morrison 1, Maldon 2; Irwin 0, Green Pond 0.
Zone K - Tacky 1, Brimmervale 0; Annotto Bay vs St Mary High did not play; Oracabessa 0, St Mary Technical 1.

Games for today
Zone B - Anchovy vs Frome; Hopewell vs Merlene Ottey; Knockalva vs Green Island.
Zone D - Cedric Titus vs Marcus Garvey; York Castle vs Browns Town.
Zone E - Balaclava vs Munro; STETHS vs Maggotty; Black River vs Lacovia.
Zone H - Denbigh vs Claude McKay; Lennon vs Thompson Town.
Zone L (a) - Buff Bay vs Port Antonio; Happy Grove vs Fair Prospect.
Zone L (b) - Morant Bay vs Seaforth; St Thomas Tech vs Yallahs; Paul Bogle vs Robert Lightbourne.