Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Semi-final places will be up for grabs in the 2007 Ben Francis Cup Knock Out competition this afternoon when the competition's four, first-round winners and the four teams that drew byes square-off in four quarter-final games, all starting at 3:00 p.m.

The games down for contention are as follows: Cornwall College against Grange Hill at Jarrett Park; Rusea's against Manchester High at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Clarendon College against Garvey Maceo at Brancourt; and Dinthill against Fair Prospect at Carder Park.

Having disposed of Cedric Titus by an impressive 4-0 margin in their first-round fixture, the Cornwall College team, which came into the Ben Francis Cup under a cloud, having used an ineligible player in the daCosta Cup preliminary phase, is bubbling with confidence.

"The controversy is now behind us and, as the boys showed on Thursday, our mission is to go out there and play good football," said Dr. Dean Weatherley, the coach of the Cornwall College. "Our confidence level is quite high and we intend to keep on doing well."

However, Grange Hill, which drew a first-round bye after conquering the likes of Petersfield, Godfrey Stewart and Mannings to top Zone C of the daCosta Cup, cannot be slighted as their impressive seven wins and two draws this season would seem to suggest a fairly competent outfit.

Confidence

Dinthill, also a fairly comfortable first-round winner, having disposed of Brimmervale 2-0, should be high on confidence going up against Zone L's Fair Prospect, which was impressive in the daCosta Cup's preliminary round.

With an unbeaten record plus their first-round win, Dinthill should start favourites against a Fair Prospect team which is having what many would consider a fairy tale season, having advanced ahead of the likes of Titchfield, Seaforth and Port Antonio.

Fireworks are expected at STETHS where Manchester High, which surprised Munro College 6-5 on penalties after holding to a regulation and extra-time 1-1 draw in their first match, will take on a bubbling Rusea's team, which romped Zone B of the daCosta Cup.

Team to be reckoned with

"This is where you generally see the best of Rusea's," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, the coach of the Rusea's team. "Once we get out of our zone, everybody knows that we will be a team to be reckoned with."

However, the Manchester team will be coming to give as good as they get as, following his team's win against Munro College, coach Barry Watson made it clear that he plans to give the Rusea's team a run for their money and if their performance this season is anything to go by, they are quite capable of doing so.

Zone I kingpins Garvey Maceo, who could only manage to scrape pass Spalding 4-3 on penalties in their first-round fixture, have another tough battle on their hand when they take on Zone H powerhouse Clarendon College, which drew a first round bye.

While Garvey Maceo should be buoyed by the fact that they qualified from a zone that featured reigning daCosta Cup champions Glenmuir, Clarendon College should also be very high on confidence, having advanced from a zone comprising Denbigh, Lennon and Vere Technical.

Cornwall College vs Grange Hill at Jarrett Park

Rusea's vs Manchester High at STETHS

Clarendon College vs Garvey Maceo at Brancourt

Dinthill vs Fair Prospect at Carder Park