DRAX HALL, St Ann-The first team to be promoted to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) for next season will be known today when western Jamaica-based teams Faulkland FC and Falmouth United clash in their Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) National Tier Two competition return-leg semi-finals at Drax Hall, starting at 3:15pm.

The team had played out a 0-0 draw in the first-leg that was played a week ago at the same venue and today’s encounter must produce a winner who will join the JPL when it kicks off later this year.

Two games were originally scheduled to be played today.

The game between Treasure Beach FC and Chapelton Maroons, who are leading the St Elizabeth-based team 2-1 after their first game, has been postponed tentatively until Wednesday after “a medical concern by the JFF Competitions Committee following representation by Treasure Beach FC and their doctor that 12 players were exhibiting signs of a viral illness,” a release from the JFF said yesterday.

Meanwhile, both teams in today’s game are confident of victory and a place in the Premier League, joining Montego Bay United as teams from western Jamaica.

Last week’s 0-0 draw was the second stalemate between the two teams this season after they played out a 1-1 draw in the first week of the season back in early June.

Faulkland FC were cruelly denied promotion to the Premier League in 2019 when they were well-placed but were docked points after using an ineligible player in their game against Molynes United who advanced instead.

On paper there is little to choose between both teams but Faulkland FC will be without Ronaldo McLeish who was sent off in the second half on Saturday, his second red card of the season.

Gregory Palmer, the coach of the St James-based club is however confident they will be able to get the edge this time.

“Well to tell you the truth, it’s a western derby but psychologically the players have to make the difference and not be caught up with the fanfare and just play football and execute the game plan,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE.

Palmer is hoping that in the absence of McLeish, Rodcliff Dawkins, Shanoy Anderson, Alex Forbes and Tyshan Hill will step up and deliver the goods today.

Dr Dean Weatherly who coaches the Falmouth United team hopes his experience in qualifying teams to the Premier League will be a factor but said the players will be the ones who have to step up to the task.

“You must want to win and it will be who wants it most,” he told ONLINE OBSERVER.

“Based on what I have seen so far, the players are up to the task, they are positive and we have a good foundation to build on,” he added.

Weatherly, who has won Premier League titles with Violet Kickers and Montego Bay United, stated that the deciding factor will be “on the day of the game, as long as we don’t blunder and give the game away, we should win.”

“I am not worried about what Faulkland will do, my focus is on getting Falmouth United to the Premier League as we really need a Premier League team in the parish of Trelawny,” he argued.

Falmouth United came on strong late in the season after a sluggish start that caused a lot of concerns among their fans but they caught fire midway the first round and are unbeaten in their last seven games, including the first leg semi-finals.

Patrick Shecklude has been the driving force with 11 goals scored with support from Leon Irvine, Kyle Marshall, Kemar Reid and Dontae Green.