Wadadah, Faulkland to contest Western Confed Super League final
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Defending champions Wadadah FC and Faulkland FC set up a repeat of last season’s Jamaica Football Federation Western Confederation/Charley’s JB Rum Super League final, after prevailing over Hopewell United and Falmouth United, respectively, in Sunday’s second-leg semi-finals at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.
Despite a power cut that delayed the first half of their return-leg semi-final, Wadadah FC remained on course for the season double over Faulkland FC with a 3-2 aggregate win over Hopewell United, after they played out a 1-1 draw in extra time on Sunday.
Faulkland FC, who are seeking to snap back-to-back losses to Wadadah FC in a final, won 5-2 on Sunday for a 6-3 aggregate win in a game that saw four goals in the first 23 minutes.
Wadadah FC led 2-1 from the first leg played at Elleston Wakeland Centre the previous Sunday, but Conrad Reid’s 90th-minute penalty kick on Sunday tied up the aggregate scores and sent the game into extra time.
Oshane Hunter, who had scored the winner in the 90th minute in the first leg, was the hero again on Sunday when he converted from the spot in the last minute of extra time, scoring in the 120th minute as Wadadah FC made it back-to-back trips to the final.
The first game got off to an explosive start, with Faulkland once again having to come from behind but being decisive with three second half goals.
Seventeen-year-old Ewan Barton scored twice in the first half and Radcliff Dawkins also got two in the second half, as Faulkland FC qualified for a fourth-consecutive Western Confederation Super League final, including the last two mid-season play-offs.
Aiden Jokomba, who started on Sunday after coming off the bench in the first game, shot Falmouth United into the lead as early as the seventh minute, but Barton pulled Faulkland FC level in the 11th minute.
Theodore Hopwood restored Falmouth United’s lead in the 20th minute but once again Barton brought his team back, scoring in the 23rd minute as the teams went to the half-time break tied at 2-2 on the day and 3-3 on aggregate.
It was all Faulkland FC in the second half as Jelani Nicholson gave them the lead for the first time in the tie when he scored in the 56th minute, and Dawkins then added another three minutes later and the final nail in Falmouth United’s coffin in the 77th minute.
