TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Falmouth United edged closer to securing a place in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Championship after hammering St Bess United 5-0 in their rescheduled Zone B game played at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Tuesday.

Mark Lewis scored four goals to lead Falmouth United who reclaimed leadership in Zone B with 26 points, three more than second-place Treasure Beach.

On Wednesday, Terron Eccleston scored a second-half hat-trick for Duncans United to preserve their place in next season’s competition with a 4-2 win over Mt Pleasant FA juniors at the same venue as both Trelawny teams, scored their second win over their opponents this season.

Both games were originally scheduled to be played on Saturday but were pushed back as the venue was being used for other events.

Falmouth United can secure their semi-final spot this weekend if they can beat Reno FC in Westmoreland while Duncans United’s win saw them improve to 14 points and will escape the drop.

On Tuesday, Falmouth United dominated the last-placed team as Lewis opened the scoring in the fifth minute while Mikhail Samuels doubled the lead in the 21st minute as they led 2-0 at the half-time break.

Lewis then scored three goals in 16 minutes in the second half, netting in the 49th, 50th and 65th minutes before he was substituted.

A day later, Eccleston scored a 19-minute hat-trick in the second half to break a 1-1 scoreline.

Theonjay Bennett gave the home team an early lead when he scored in the sixth minute but Mt Pleasant FA juniors pulled level in the 44th minute when Allyja Blythe curled a corner directly into the far corner to level the scores.

Eccleston then headed Duncans United into the lead in the 66th minute, beating goalkeeper Kamani Campbell at his near right post from a cross and then completed his brace in the 80th minute.

Blythe scored again in the 82nd minute to cut the deficit to one at 3-2 but Eccleston would not be denied his hat trick, scoring his third goal in the 85th minute.

— Paul Reid