ST Bess United will have to wait until the final round of matches to know if they will qualify for the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Championships play-offs, after they had to come from behind to earn a 2-2 result against Villa United at Lacovia Community Centre on Saturday.

St Bess United needed a win to top Group C and secure their place in the semi-finals but were down 0-2 at home after only 16 minutes. They were lucky to get two late goals to avoid an upset loss.

Meanwhile, there were 3-1 wins for WiFi United and Duanvale FC over Madras FC and Reggae Youths, respectively. Reggae Youths’s loss eliminated them from contention.

The other game at Orchard Sports Club in Hanover was called off early in the second half with Petersfield FC leading 2-0, after four Sandy Bay players were sent off and another was alleged to have threatened the match officials.

Demar Nelson scored in the seventh minute and Cardiff Denton in the 16th minute for Villa United who had lost their first two games. They appeared to be on their way to their first win before St Bess, who had won the first game 2-1, rallied to salvage a point.

Ceon Falconer pulled a goal back for St Bess United in the 83rd minute and Kevon Farquharson drew them level in time added.

WiFi United, who had won their first-round match against Madras, ran out 3-1 victors, coming from a goal down at Addison Park on Saturday. They took over the lead in Group B with six points, two more than Gray’s Inn who have a game in hand.

Kenardo Simpson gave Madras the lead in the 35th minute and it took Wifi United until the 69th minute for Hardley Barnes, who had a double, to equalise.

Marlon Pennicooke gave Wifi the lead in the 82nd minute before Barnes added his second and his team’s third in time added.

Duanvale took charge of Group D with a 3-1 win over Reggae Youths, moving to 10 points from four games despite playing with 10 men from the 54th minute when Okeemo Thompson was sent off after he got a second yellow card.

Oshane Brown gave Duanvale the lead from as early as the third minute but Larnel McFarlane equalised for Reggae Youths in the 22nd minute and they stayed tied at half-time.

Chevaughn Barnett put Duanvale into the lead in the 80th minute and an own goal conceded by Reggae Youths in the 89th minute sealed their own fate.

At Orchard, Fifa official Ojay Duhaney sent off four Sandy Bay players in the 48th minute — Melvin Donalds, Rushane Downie, Marlando Johnson and Shevoy Downie.

Reports of a threat towards the officials then saw the game being called off.

Petersfield had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through an own goal and then doubled the lead in the 47th minute.

– Paul A Reid