Melbourne FC, Reggae Youths to battle for St JFA Senior League title
MELBOURNE FC and Reggae Youths will have it all to play for when they meet in the return-leg final of the St James Football Association’s Sandals/ATL Senior League at Jarrett Park tomorrow, starting at 4:00 pm.
Both teams, which are seeking their first title, played out a 0-0 draw last Friday in the first-leg at the same venue. With a place in the Western Confederation Super League next season at stake, tomorrow’s game is expected to be exciting from the start.
Meanwhile, in the first game set for 2:00 pm, Mountain Villa will have a mountain to climb when they seek to overturn a 6-0 margin against Faulkland FC in the return-leg final of the Sandals/ATL Division One.
A hat-trick from Odean Snow last week spurred Faulkland FC to a massive first-leg lead, and they are expected to cruise to their first ever title tomorrow.
Faulkland FC were surprised in last season’s Division Two finals by Somerton FC and might not need the services of starting goalkeeper Jamario Hines who missed the first game after he was sent off in the return-leg semi-finals against Club Stars.
In the second game tomorrow, both Melbourne FC and Reggae Youths will have to do without a key player after the teams were forced to finish the game with 10 players each last week.
Kamal Smith, who has scored some crucial goals for Melbourne FC late in the season, and Oshane Russell, one of the top strikers in the Reggae Youths team, were both sent off after they exchanged blows.
Reggae Youths are in their second straight final after losing to Violet Kickers last year, and will hope Javian Bailey and Santino Grinion can rise to the occasion tomorrow.
Melbourne FC scored 18 goals in their 11 games played in the regular season, the most by any of the semi-finalists, but also conceded the most goals, giving up 10, most of them coming late in the season.
In the absence of Smith, Davian Brown and Chevon Allen will be expected to take on the goal scoring responsibilities.
The game is play-to-finish, and if the teams are tied on goals after regulation, extra-time will be introduced. If the teams are still tied, then penalty kicks will be used to decide the champions.