Baptist Alliance, Falmouth United lead after first round in JFF champs
ST ANN, Jamaica — Baptist Alliance and Falmouth United ended the first round of the Jamaica Football Federation Championships as leaders of their respective zones after big wins over Portlanders FC and Mt Pleasant FA juniors respectively on Saturday.
Ackeem Reid scored a hat-trick as Baptist Alliance came from behind to beat Portlanders FC 5-1 to lead Zone A with 16 points while Falmouth United blanked Mt Pleasant FA juniors 3-0, their sixth straight victory.
Kerone George gave Portlanders FC the lead at Lynch Park, scoring his fifth goal of the season in the 24th minute.
Baptist Alliance hit back decisively with three goals late in the half, however, to lead 3-1 at the break, Reid levelled the teams in the 40th minute before giving them the lead a minute later while Daminan Anderson scored a minute into time added at the end of the first half.
Reid completed his hat trick in the 72nd minute before Darnell Lee added a fifth in time added at the end of the second half.
They now lead Zone B with 19 points.
Three points separate the top three teams in Zone A with Meadforest FC in second place on 15 points after edging Grays Inn 1-0.
Lime Hall FC who started the round of games at the top, fell to third place on 14 points after playing out a 1-1 draw with Spanish Town Police.
Jermaine Morgan’s 51st-minute goal gave Meadforest FC all three points in their game against Grays Inn while Lime Hall came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Spanish Town Police.
Shamar Harris scored in the 42nd minute to give Spanish Town Police the lead before Carlos Campbell scored the equaliser in the 89th minute.
In the first game of the doubleheader at Drax Hall, Falmouth United continued their best run in the competition since their first season, brushing aside Mt Pleasant FA juniors with goals from Chad Howell in the third minute, Mark Lewis in the 34th minute and Jordan Brown in the 57th minute.
Reno FC snapped a three games winless run to edge last placed St Bess United 1-0 at the Lacovia Community Centre with a 25th minute goal from Jeremy Coke and moved up to second place on 13 points.
Treasure Beach FC, who were held goal-less by Petersfield FC, slipped into third place on 11 points.
Also on Saturday, Tru-Juice edged Progressive FC 1-0, Curtel Lawes scoring in the 33rd minute while Duncans United and Holland PYC played out a 1-1 draw.
— Paul Reid
