The first of a two-way semi-finals in the 2019 Jamaica Football Federation (JFF)/Lascelles Employees and Partners Co-Operative Credit Union Women’s Premier League get underway this afternoon with a double-header at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

The curtain-raiser will see defending champions Waterhouse FC and Olympic Gardens FC gracing the surface at 1:30 pm, while Cavalier FC go up against Arnett Gardens FC, beginning at 3:30 pm.

Interestingly, the teams will be facing each other for a third time this season after competing twice on a home and away format in the preliminary rounds in their respective zones.

The first meeting between Waterhouse and Olympic ended in a 1-1 draw in Zone ‘A’ at their Drewsland Mini Stadium. Olympic Gardens in the return-leg whipped Waterhouse 6-2 at home at Cling Cling Oval.

Cavalier tagged Arnett 2-0 in their home match at Alpha Boy’s Institute in Zone ‘B’, but Arnett turned the tables with a 1-0 home win at their Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

With the teams having lost a game to each other, it should produce an intriguing battle between the big four wanting to take the advantage going into the second leg of the semis.

Waterhouse, for their part, will be banking Tasheika Small, Laceyann Murray, Latoya Duhaney, and Christina Salmon to lead the victory charge.

Meanwhile, Kevena Reid, having scored 16 goals this season, should again play the leading role for Olympic, and should be ably supported by Ashlee Sawyers, Monique Pryce and Stephanie Morgan.

Cavalier will look to leading scorer Rena Gordon to get things cracking against Arnett. She will have the backing of Kayla Bailey, Rhonda Rooms, Shanice Irons, Khedine Salmon and Chrisann Roberts as they take aim at Arnett.

Arnett, meantime, will rest their hopes on Shenika Williams, Kadian Edwards, Taunashae Hamilton, Tasheka Reid, Tajay Stephenson, Kaena Shae Thomas, Dejonae Pinto and Tamara O’Sullivan.

– Gerald Reid