Falmouth, Duanvale for Trelawny Major League final
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Falmouth United stayed on course for the double after qualifying for the final of the Trelawny Football Association Grandeur Transportation Services/MonyMusk Rum Trelawny FA Major League on Sunday.
The mid-season champions beat Coopers Pen 1-0 in the return-leg semi-finals at Elleston Wakeland for a 4-1 aggregate and will meet Duanvale FC, who beat Friendship United 4-1 in their second-leg game for a 7-3 aggregate, thanks in part to two late goals from Onandi Rowe.
Falmouth United had won the first game 3-1, while Duanvale FC came from two goals down to win their first-leg game 3-2 a week earlier.
Falmouth United and Duanvale FC will now meet in next Sunday’s final at the Elleston Wakeland Centre with the winner also qualifying for next season’s Western Confederation Super League.
On Sunday, Falmouth United barely got out of first gear in a scrappy game to confirm their place in the final, while Duanvale FC turned in a second-straight second-half masterclass to blow Friendship United out of the water.
Antonio Roberts’ 44th-minute goal was enough for Falmouth United as they were denied several times in the second half by Coopers Pen goalkeeper Olanzo Bird, who made several spectacular saves to keep his team in the match.
Despite having more possession of the ball in the second half, Coopers Pen FC failed miserably in front of the goal, wasting several good scoring chances.
Duanvale led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a wonderful volley from Marvin bent on the edge of the 18-yard area as he latched on to a clearance and powered it back past goalkeeper Archer Christopher.
Oshane Brown then scored a second on the day in the 68th minute to push the aggregate scores to 5-2, but a penalty conversion by Friendship United’s Jamiel Hines in the 71st minute reduced the deficit to two goals.
Rowe came up with two late goals, scoring in the 79th and 85th minutes to secure Duanvale FC’s safe passage to the final where they hope to make amends for their loss in the mid-season play-offs.