The St Thomas FA’s Captain’s Bakery Major League title will be up for grabs this afternoon when defending champions Lyssons meet Standstar in the final at York Oval at 3:00 pm.

Sandstar booked their spot after they blanked perennial rivals Prospect 5-0, while Lyssons advanced with a more modest 2-0 win over Kool Kat.

Victory for Sandstar today will take on added significance as they dedicate the game to fallen teammate and ace striker Alrick Richards who was shot dead by gunmen on his birthday at Hamstead district in the parish on April 24 — mere hours after scoring a brace in a 4-2 win against Heartease United.

The Orville Fray-coached Sandstar, based in the greater Yallahs area, will now have to bank on inspirational midfielder Glenmore Reid to lead their charge for the Captain’s Bakery trophy and the $100,000 prize money.

Lyssons, coached by Marva Espeut, will rely on the irrepressible Khareem King to lead a successful defence of their title.

President of the St Thomas FA, Wayne Thompson — having studied both teams throughout the season — said he expects a very tactical game.

“I would expect both coaches to be methodical. Also, Sandstar will want to go all out for their teammate who was killed, while Lyssons will have a point to prove as champions,” he said.

Thompson, who last year took the reins of football in the parish, said he was very pleased with the level of discipline in the tournament and anticipates this to continue into today’s decisive match-up.

“As an association with have been working with the clubs emphasising the importance of discipline, and they have complied partly out of respect for the sponsor,” he explained.

Three years ago, there was an ugly incident where players of Springrain and Delta Force brawled at a final, but “overall behaviour has improved since”. “This incident left a bitter taste in the mouth of our sponsor and we cannot a repeat,” Thompson noted.