JFF Championships reaches semi-final stage
FOUR teams will be gunning for the two remaining spots in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Championships play-offs, in the final set of matches in the first round on Sunday.
Gray’s Inn SC of St Mary, leaders of Group B, will take on second-place WiFi United SC of Portland at Carder Park while Group D leaders Petersfield FC of Westmoreland and Duanvale FC of Trelawny will face Reggae Youths and Sandy Bay, respectively.
In another game of academic interest only, Villa United and Cross United will meet at Brooks Park in Mandeville.
Two teams, Seaforth SC of St Thomas and St Bess United of St Elizabeth, have already booked their semi-final spots and are awaiting the qualifiers from today’s round of matches.
Three teams will be promoted to the JFF Championships when it starts later in the season.
Gray’s Inn leads Group B with seven points, one more than WiFi, and a draw would be enough for them to advance to the semi-finals set to start next weekend.
Gray’s Inn had won the first game 3-2 and are yet to taste defeat, but they must be at their best to keep out a WiFi United team that will be hoping to use home ground advantage to their benefit.
Petersfield FC must beat out-of-contention, but still dangerous, Reggae Youths to ensure their spot as Duanvale FC is expected to get full points from Sandy Bay United, who are yet to even score a goal in five games.
There is no comfort zone for Petersfield FC as they lead Duanvale FC by only a point, 11-10, and both teams are expected to make every effort to get to the semi-finals.
In their first-round game Petersfield FC rallied from 0-3 down, at home, to earn a 3-3 draw — and with so much on the line on Sunday they will hope to get off to a better start.
With Sandy Bay only expected to show up to honour the fixtures, Duanvale FC are expected to at least repeat their first-round 3-0 win as they try to put themselves in a position to take group honours.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
WiFi vs Gray’s Inn – Carder Park
Villa United vs Cross United – Brooks Park
Reggae Youths vs Petersfield FC – Irwin High
Duanvale FC vs Sandy Bay United – Duanvale
