MONTEGO BAY, St James – President of St James Football Association, Gregory Daley, has hailed Faulkland FC’s qualification to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) after the St James-based beat Falmouth United in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Tier Two competition at Drax Hall on Sunday.

Faulkland FC will join Montego Bay United as the western Jamaica-based teams in the JPL when the new season starts later this year.

“The parish is very proud and extremely happy and is celebrating with the Faulkland Football Club. This is one club that we have watched and worked with coming through the ranks from the Division Two competition. They stuck to the task and always endeavoured to do the right things in making the club compliant, adhering to rules and regulations…,” said Daley, who is also chairman of the Western Confederation.

Gregory Palmer, coach of the Faulkland FC team, said “getting to the Jamaica Premier League is a great and joyous moment for the club, and also the parish of St James.”

Faulkland FC beat Falmouth United 4-3 on penalties after they played out a 1-1 draw in the second-leg of the semi-finals on Sunday for a 1-1 aggregate score and after extra time failed to break the tie, it was down to penalties to decide the winners.

O’Brien Robinson extended his competition leading goals tally to 14 when he gave Faulkland the lead in the 24th minute, but Kemar Reid scored in the dying seconds to tie up the game for Falmouth United.

It was the third time the teams were meeting this season.

Earlier, in the opening round played in Falmouth they battled to a 1-1 draw, while in the first leg of the semi-finals they played out a 0-0 draw.

Faulkland FC will face the winner of the other semi-final between Chapelton Maroons and Treasure Beach, on Sunday, also at Drax Hall, in the final of the competition.

Kymany Reid, Val Armstrong, Marvin Sangster and Michael Heaven were the penalty scorers for Faulkland FC after Michael McLeod saw his kick saved.

Leon Irvin, Reid and Kyle Marshall scored for Falmouth United as Patrick Shecklude, their top scorer, and Ziddanne Francis both missed.

Daley told the Jamaica Observer West that Faulkland FC always “had a clear vision on where they wanted to be and with hard work and determination, we can all see the results.”

“This goes to show that other clubs in the parish can do the same. It will never be easy but perseverance, determination, and hard work is the key,” the parish president said.

“The St James Football Association celebrates with the Faulkland Football Club and we endeavour to continue working with them to be national champions. Congratulations Faulkland FC!”

It was sweet redemption for Faulkland who had just failed to qualify in 2019 when they were well-placed in the Premier League play-offs but had points taken away after using an ineligible player.

Palmer said, “The coaching staff has been working assiduously and I think it is well deserved. We have been the most consistent team throughout the competition, scored the most goals and also have the competition’s leading goal scorer.”

Sunday’s game, he said, “was a tough one basically because it was a western derby. We scored first and should have killed off the game from the first half. I think we wasted some good goal scoring opportunities and we should have comfortably led the first half by 3-0.

“They [Faulkland] allowed Falmouth United too much time in the second half, and in time added, we lapsed in concentration and they equalised,” he said.

He added that his team was well prepared, stressing that “we left no stone unturned, practised penalties all week in the training sessions.”

“We were hoping to be able to get more sponsors on board and strengthen the areas of the team which are of concern and see where it takes us. However, we still have a final to play so that would be our next assignment before anything else.”