ST JAMES, Jamaica— Granville United improved their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Major League on Wednesday after hammering Heights FC 7-0 in their rescheduled return-round game played at the UDC Field.

In a game reduced to 70 minutes due to a late start, three players – Andre Tate, Odean Snow and Andrew Allen – all scored braces as Granville United jumped two spots into third place with 19 points, to tie with Cambridge United.

The game was originally set for late December but was not played as Granville United had refused to play due to the absence of uniformed police presence.

Four teams are in a close race for the three remaining spots in the semi-finals, hoping to join qualifiers and leaders Flankers FC who are on 23 points, one more than Reggae Youths who will play Heights FC on Friday.

Granville United and Cambridge FC are tied on 19 points, both from 10 games; three more than Lilliput Rovers who have also played 10 games.

On Wednesday, Granville United got off to a fast start against Heights FC, who started with nine players with Tate opening the scoring in the 10th minute, before Snow scored his double in the span of two minutes in the 24th and 26th minutes.

Omaro Robinson made it 4-0 when he scored in the 29th minute.

Granville United eased off the gas to some extent in the second half, but Allen made it 5-0 in the 50th minute.

Tate completed his double in the 87th minute and Allen made it 7-0 in the 89th minute.

– Paul Reid