ST JAMES, Jamaica – Regular season winners Mt Pleasant FA lead Montego Bay United 1-0 while defending champions Cavalier SC and Arnett Gardens are locked 1-1 after their first leg Jamaica Premier League semi-finals at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday.

The close contests set up what are expected to be scintillating second legs Sunday for spots in the final.

A goalkeeping error in the first half resulted in the only goal in the second game of the double header as Mt Pleasant FA managed to hold off a Montego Bay United team that attacked in waves.

Montego Bay goalkeeper Davonnie Burton left his line for a high ball in the 26th minute but missed and Clifford Thomas made them pay with a sweetly struck half volley that flew back past the custodian into the far corner.

Montego Bay dominated the second half but, despite a number of good scoring chances, failed to at least draw level. Lucas Lima came close when his powerhouse shot from just outside the 18 yard box was tipped for a corner by goalkeeper Tafari Chambers.

In the first game, Cavalier took the lead in the 27th minute when Jerome McLeary headed a cross past goalkeeper Jadvin Waul but Arnett Gardens grabbed a vital equaliser in the 81st minute when Warner Brown powered the ball home from a goal mouth melee.