Paul Clarke, Star Writer
Western Bureau:

Two-time defending Ben Francis Cup winners St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will bow into action this afternoon in the rural-area schoolboy football knockout competition, at home in Santa Cruz, against the very dangerous Kemps Hill High School out of Clarendon.

The 3 p.m. start will no doubt bring about the expected throng of supporters for this cross-border clash, of sorts, with the visitors primed to inflict a surprise result if they can, over the Omar Wedderburn-coached STETHS, who have only dropped points once at home this year in a thrilling 1-1 draw with Munro College on Saturday October 5.

But cracking the STETHS defence is easier said than done. They have conceded a miserly four goals to date, while being rampant against their opponents by scoring 49 goals to lead all schools in that department, with top marksman Khesanio Hall accounting for almost half the amount with his 22 strikes.

Kemps Hill and their coach Dwight Smith know, however, that anything can happen in a one-off game such as today's quarter-final, but will have to plan carefully how he will stop the fleet-footed striker.

This Kemps Hill side too have their own quality, as was shown in their first round game against defending daCosta Cup champions Glenmuir, who they stopped 1-0 and certainly STETHS will also need to be vigilant in order to move into the semis.

Elsewhere, the fairytale run for Green Pond High looks likely to continue when they tackle Godfrey Stewart at Jarrett Park. They enter today's encounter as favourites, after their 4-1 demolition job on William Knibb midweek, the same evening that Godfrey Stewart got the better of Rusea's 3-2 on penalties.

"This team has been playing very good football and we see no reason to stop now. Godfrey Stewart is just another hurdle to get over and we are confident we can do just that,Ó Gregory Daley, the Green Pond coach said.

It is no secret that the entire school believes that this Ben Francis Cup represents their first real opportunity to lift a schoolboy football title.

Today's matches

Green Pond versus Godfrey Stewart High at Jarrett Park

Manchester vs Clarendon College at Kirkvine

St. Mary Tech vs Paul Bogle at Highgate/Dinthill

STETHS vs Kemps Hill at STETHS