TUCKER, St James — Former champions Montego Bay United (MBU) and promoted Faulkland FC will meet in a Jamaica Premier League (JPL) first-round game at Wespow Park on Sunday, in the first St James Premier League derby in nearly 20 years.

The most recent meeting between St James clubs in the nation’s top club competition was in the 2006/2007 season when Seba United (renamed MBU) and Wadadah FC met three times in the preliminary rounds, each winning once and drawing the other.

In that season, two other teams from western Jamaica — Reno FC from Westmoreland and Village United from Trelawny — also participated in the competition.

Both teams are in the lower half of the points tables and are desperate for a win. MBU started well but are winless in their last five games and have slipped down to ninth place on 12 points, while Faulkland FC have yet to win a game and are at the foot of the tables on two points.

They are also coming off disappointing results.

Faulkland FC gave up a two-goal lead and had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw with Molynes United, while two poor decisions late in their game saw MBU lose 2-0 to Dunbeholden FC.

Dwayne Ambusley, the MBU assistant coach, told the Jamaica Observer West earlier this week that they are anxious for the derby.

“Every player and every coach relishes a derby,” he said. “We just hope we can provide some entertainment and this game is good for St James and all of the west.”

Ambusley, who has played in a few derbies during his playing days, said he was expecting “a physical game and it could come down to a moment of individual brilliance, we have been stressing to the players that in a derby, form goes out the window.”

He admitted there were some concerns with the team, especially at the offensive end.

“We have not been able to get goals from open play, that is unacceptable, also we have to defend well and get the wing backs involved more in attack,” he argued.

The Faulkland coach could not be reached for a comment.

On Sunday, MBU will hope Nazime Matalie Grant, who showed some flashes of good football against Dunbeholden FC recently, can get going as well as Johann Weatherly, Courtney Allen and the veteran Allan Ottey.

Faulkland will be without the pair of Michael McLeod and Marvin Sangster who were both sent off against Molynes, but will hope Enrique Gordon, who scored both goals will be able to extend his goal scoring form.

The coaching staff will also be hoping to contain the MBU team without McLeod, and the duo of Val Armstrong and Tyshan Hill could have added work to do at the back.