FOUR PATHS, Clarendon — The finalists in this season’s Clarendon Captain’s Bakery Major League will be decided today following the playing of the semi-final return legs.

In south-east Clarendon, Treadlight will seek to preserve their two-goal advantage when they play away to fellow debutants Kemps Hill, while defending champions Jamalco will have it all to do in their battle with Four Paths at the Four Paths Community Centre.

The Jackie Walters-coached Jamalco were held to a goalless draw at their Wembley home ground in Saturday’s first leg.

Treadlight, on the other hand, made full use of their home advantage — blanking Kemps Hill 2-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Octave Roberts and Rohan Richards. Now, even a defeat, by a one-goal margin, would be enough to see them through to this Saturday’s championship decider, which is set for the Jamalco Sports Club in Hayes.

Jamalco, though, face a huge test if they are to repeat last season’s success as, based on the evidence, their opponents are improving by the game.

Four Paths, who ironically pipped Jamalco to the title — on the last day of the season — two years ago, started the current campaign in uninspiring form. At the halfway stage of the competition, while Jamalco rejoiced in lifting the mid-season title, they appeared to be heading straight for a relegation dogfight, having scrapped to a few points.

However, as the second round began, a rejuvenated Four Paths unit turned up and — playing the exciting brand of football that their supporters are used to — they put together a string of impressive results that not only allayed their relegation fears, but also earned them a semi-final spot in the process.

They finished second, behind Treadlight, in Zone Two — level on points (17) with neighbours York Town, but earned the right to meet Jamalco in the last four due to a slightly superior goal difference.

And after surviving what many had expected to be a routine Jamalco victory in the first leg, Four Paths now have a huge opportunity, in front of their home crowd, to finish the season with a place in the final.

Meanwhile, Jamalco, who have only tasted defeat once this season, could lose this semi-final contest and still emerge as winners.

They are already assured a place in the South Central Confederation Super Eight play-off.

Having won last year’s Major League, Jamalco, along with the champions from the three other parishes — St Catherine, Manchester and St Elizabeth — that comprise South Central were unable to advance to the Confederation’s Super League competition, which, as of this season, has been scrapped by the executive body, who cited lack of sustained sponsorship and general public support when announcing their decision.

Instead of the Super League, a Super Eight play-off has been instituted.

This shortened and presumably more inexpensive version of the Super League will feature two teams each — the Major League champions and their runner-ups — from the four parish associations. However, with Jamalco, DB Basovak, Alligator Pond and Black Stars being denied promotion to the older version of the Super League they were each awarded a place in the Super Eight.