HOPEWELL, Hanover — The race for semi-final places in the Jamaica Football Federation Tier II play-offs heated up after Wednesday’s start of the return matches, with high-flying Harmony FC and Toll Gate FC both suffering their first loss of the series.

Tuscany Warriors of Westmoreland have taken over the lead in Group D after beating Harmony FC 2-0 at the Linval Crawford Sports Complex in Trelawny. They improve to seven points, one more than Harmony FC and Reggae Youths of St James who beat Sandy Bay United 6-0 at Orchard.

Tuscany Warriors were gifted the lead in the ninth minute when Harmony FC conceded an own goal and Malique Williams added a second goal in the 86th. It was the first meeting between the teams after the first-round game was postponed.

Reggae Youths jumped into second place on goal difference, setting up a crucial meeting with Tuscany Warriors on Saturday, with a 6-0 trouncing of Sandy Bay. It was their second win over the Hanover team after they had beaten them 2-0 in the first round.

Denardo Kerr scored twice for Reggae Youths, who led 4-0 at half-time. He netted in the 45th and 87th minutes.

Reggae Youths led 2-0 inside the first half hour, thanks to two penalty kicks from Sebastian Robinson in the 15th minute and Santino Grinion in the 29th minute, while Mikhail Samuels added a goal in the 63rd and Chadaine Blagrove in the 69th minute.

Gray’s Inn scored the first win in Group B after outscoring Ujama 5-3 at Annotto Bay Sports Complex, despite a hat-trick from Kevonne Miller after the teams had played out a 0-0 scoreline in the first round.

The win took Gray’s Inn to five points from three games and they are followed by Brown’s Town and Ujama, both on two points each.

Quincey Jones, who scored a brace, opened the scoring for Gray’s Inn when he scored in the third minute before Miller equalised for Ujama in the 23rd minute.

Oshane Miller, who scored in the 32nd minute, and Jovan Moore in time added at the end of the first half, gave Gray’s Inn a 3-1 lead before Richard Gooden made it 4-1 in the 51st minute.

Strikes from Ujama’s Miller, in the 75th and 78th minutes, cut the deficit to 3-4 and Jones completed his brace in the 85th minute as the St Mary club secured all three points.

Los Perfectos rebounded from their opening game loss and scored their first win in Group C, edging Toll Gate 1-0 with a 22nd minute goal from Robino Gordon.

All three teams in Group C are now on three points, with each team having two more games to play.