Sandals, Boys Club battle for honours in the west
MONTEGO BAY, St James — First-time champions will be crowned in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Western Confederation Charley’s JB Rum Super League when Montego Bay Boys Club and Sandals South Coast clash in today’s final at Jarrett Park, starting at 6:00 pm.
Montego Bay Boys Club have got past the first round for the very first time, while Sandals South Coast, who will go into the game as favorites, lost on penalties in last season’s final to Granville United.Both teams qualified for the final after contrasting wins in the return-leg semi-finals played at Jarrett Park last Sunday. Boys Club upset Faulkland FC 2-1 in an all St James clash for a 2-1 aggregate win, while Sandals South Coast beat Wadadah FC 4-0 in the other game for a 5-1 aggregate.In addition to the cash prize and championship trophy at stake, today’s winners will take a step closer to playing in the island’s top club competition, the Red Stripe Premier League, as they will be part of the four-team JFF Confederation play-offs set to start later this month.Sandals South Coast have made it to the semi-finals of the Super League in each of the last three seasons and have not lost the Boys Club in their last four meetings.The teams drew 1-1 in their first meeting before Sandals won 1-0 in the return leg on their way to topping the points table with 41 points — 11 more than second-placed Boys Club.The Aaron Lawrence-coached Sandals South Coast will, however, be conscious of their recent record in finals as they were hammered 2-5 by Reggae Youths in the mid-season final this year after taking an early 2-0 lead.But coming off that big win over an improved Wadadah FC last week, their confidence will be sky high.Boys Club will also be ready for the duel as they showed their mettle against a good Faulkland FC team to earn a place in their biggest game for decades.Ron Daley is on fire after two goals for Sandals South Coast on Sunday to take his tally to 10 on the season, and he could be the man to unlock a tight Montego Bay Boys Club defence.Two players — Roshane Reid and Leroy Christie — have scored four each for Boys Club, but the team has struggled in front of goal this season, scoring only 21 goals in 16 regular-season games.
