CLARENDON, Jamaica — Leaders Faulkland FC of St James and Chapleton Maroons of Clarendon can book their spots in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation National Tier Two competition with wins in Saturday’s ninth round of matches.

They are on 20 points from their eight games, and with two more games to go after today’s round, wins for both would guarantee them places in the top four as they seek promotion to the Jamaica Premier League next season.

Faulkland FC will travel to 11th-place Downs YC, while Chapleton Maroons are away to Tru-Juice FC at Prison Oval, with the hosts mathematically still in with a chance to make it to the semi-finals as they are only two points off the top four spot.

Third-place Treasure Beach and fourth-place Falmouth United will meet in arguably the most important game of the round, at Elleston Wakeland Centre. The winner would get a massive boost to their semi-finals chances.

Faulkland FC are coming off a scare on Tuesday — coming from behind three times to earn a 3-3 draw against Tru-Juice FC in Montego Bay — but will face Downs YC who are winless in their last four games and have lost their last three.

O’Brien Robinson was kept off the score sheet for the first time this season in the game against Tru-Juice but is expected to resume his prolific form today and should add to his 11 goals scored already — the most by any player.

Twelve players have scored at least one goal for Faulkland FC so far and the St James club faces a team today that has conceded 21 goals, second most so far behind only Hopewell United.

Chapleton Maroons are up against an unpredictable Tru-Juice team that has only lost once in four games at Prison Oval. Their draw away to Faulkland FC earlier in the week would have boosted their confidence to try for a top four position.

Chapleton Maroons are one of two teams yet to taste defeat in the competition and are expected to be on the offensive early, led by Kahem Dixon who has scored seven goals so far and Javel Ellis who has four.

Tru-Juice FC have only scored nine goals in their eight games played but have only conceded nine as well, tied for the best defensive record with Chapleton and Treasure Beach.

The game at Elleston Wakeland will attract a lot of attention for the two teams separated by three points but the hosts have rallied from a slow start, scoring 18 of their 25 goals in their last three games. They are led by Patrick Shecklude who has scored seven of his 10 goals in the same span of games.

Playing at home will also be an advantage for Falmouth United but Treasure Beach FC have shown they can get points away from home, picking up four points in three away games.

Kadeem Stone has been the top scorer for Treasure Beach so far with five goals, including two braces, but the Treasure Beach defence will have to keep an eye out for not just Shecklude but Leon Irving and Kyle Marshall, who is coming off a hat-trick performance on Tuesday.

Baptist Alliance are in fifth place, tied on 11 points with two other teams — Portlanders and Tru-Juice — and will face hapless Wadada United in Montego Bay.

Baptist Alliance are unbeaten in their last three games but two of them were draws and they will face a Wadada United team that could be low on confidence.

However, the St Thomas team has not won away from home in four games, earning just one point in a 1-1 draw away to Lime Hall Academy at Drax Hall on Tuesday.

Portlanders FC will travel to face a Hopewell United team that has improved as the season has progressed but is still inconsistent.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Falmouth United vs Treasure Beach @ Elleston Wakeland

Wadada United vs Baptist Alliance @ Irwin High

Downs YC vs Faulkland FC @ Downs Community Centre

Hopewell United vs Portlanders FC @ Orchard Sports Club

Tru Juice FC vs Chapleton Maroons @ Prison Oval

Lime Hall Academy vs Albion Mountain FC@ Drax Hall

All games are expected to start at 3:30 pm.

– Paul Reid