Battle for finals!
MONTEGO BAY, St James – The places in the finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Western Confederation Charley’s JB Rum Super League will be on the line on Sunday in the return legs of the semi-finals to be played at Jarrett Park, with the first game set to kick off at 4:00 pm.
Defending champions Wadadah FC will take a one-goal lead into their game against Hopewell United, set to start at 6:00 pm, after winning last Sunday’s first leg 2-1 at the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, while Faulkland FC and Falmouth United will seek to break a 1-1 tie in the first game.
Wadadah FC and Faulkland FC are seeking a repeat of last season’s final, as well as the mid-season final — both won by Wadadah FC — while Falmouth United and Hopewell United are in their first semi-finals.
Two mouth-watering clashes are expected, after last Sunday’s close and exciting games in Falmouth, with the teams seeking a place in the finals, as well as the possibility of playing in the Premier League next season.
Wadadah FC are former Premier League champions, but have not returned after being relegated 11 seasons ago despite winning the Super League on several occasions, while none of the other three teams have passed the Super League stage.
Last Sunday, a 90th minute penalty conversion from Oshane Hunter put Wadadah FC in front with their 2-1 win over the first-time finalists, while another first- timer Falmouth United, and favourites Faulkland FC, ended in a 1-1 draw in their game.
Tyshan Hill shot Wadadah FC into the lead as early as the 10th minute and they should have doubled the lead early in the second- half, but Hopewell United’s goalkeeper Darren Tummings kept his team in the game with a smart double save, blocking two shots from inside the six yard- box.
O’Carey Spence just missed pulling Hopewell United level in the 58th minute when he pulled a shot just wide of the Wadadah FC goal with goalkeeper Tristan Bernard beaten off his line.
Leslie Foster was well-placed in the 65th minute to score from inside the six yard-box, hitting the ball over Bernard who was on the ground, and missed the cross from the left side.
Hill was instrumental in the second goal for his team as he was pulled down in the box to get a penalty which Hunter buried to give his team the lead.
The second game was played at a fast pace between two teams that were equally matched, but it was Falmouth United playing at home that got the lead when Ziddane Francis brilliantly headed a flighted cross from the left that beat the Faulkland FC defence, and he was well- placed at the far right post to beat goalkeeper Robert Morrison.
Ewan Barton equalised for Faulkland FC with a well- timed volley in the 40th minute from a right side cross from Peter Campbell.
It was Barton’s eighth goal for Faulkland FC since his move from Granville United in January, and his league leading 11th overall.
With their tails up, Faulkland FC threw everything in attack and just missed taking the lead in the 42nd minute as the Falmouth United goalkeeper David Swaby blocked a point- blank blast from Barton.