WATERHOUSE FC and Barbican FC scored identical 2-1 wins against Cavalier SC and Rockfort, respectively, to move on to the semi-final stages of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Jackie Bell Knockout competition at Drewsland on Thursday.

Waterhouse will now face Boys’ Town, who scuttled neighbours Arnett Gardens 4-2, while Barbican will do battle against Harbour View, who edged last year’s champions Tivoli Gardens 2-1 in the other semi-final played on Wednesday.

Draw for the semi-final placings were made by KSAFA president AB Stewart Stephenson during the half-time break of the opening game between Barbican and Rockfort at Drewsland.

Mario McDonald, younger brother of Oneil ‘Chippy’ McDonald, put Barbican ahead after 20 minutes, but four minutes later Akeem Higgins unhinged the Barbican defence with the equaliser. The teams continued to battle gamely for the ascendancy with the Leon Mitchell-coached Rockfort FC holding on stubbornly to keep their tormentors at bay and at the same time threatening to upset the apple cart with surprising attacks. However, with 30 minutes remaining, fresh legs from the Barbican bench became Rockfort’s undoing as the diminutive midfielder Shaquille Lewis, who entered the fray six minutes earlier, nipped under the Rockfort radar to beat goalkeeper Neil Morgan for Barbican’s second.

With defeat staring Rockfort in the face, they showed why they are Super League leaders by driving forward with some good dribbling skills and fired away at goal, but Barbican had no intention of relinquishing their lead and held on to reach their second Jackie Bell semi-final in consecutive years.

Waterhouse, who have won the Jackie Bell only four times in their history, had to perform another Houdini act before coming away a 2-1 winner after they once again fell behind at the first hurdle.

Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson had saved the day for Waterhouse in their second-round match against Humble Lion in the Red Stripe Premier League, but this time it was the much-maligned young striker Jermaine Benjamin, who came up with the two goals that separated the teams to lay the foundation for coach Anthony Patrick to earn his first chance to win a cup as coach of Waterhouse.

Kicking down the slope Oshane Jenkins put Cavalier ahead after 31 minutes and they held stubbornly to the lead for the next 23 minutes. This was before Benjamin sneaked behind the Cavalier defence to squeeze the ball over the line and put the teams back on level terms.

Six minutes later it was a freak of a goal from Benjamin that put Waterhouse into their first semi-final for three seasons.