ST ANN, Jamaica — The race for places in next season’s Jamaica Premier League will intensify Saturday with the playing of the first leg games in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation National Tier Two competition at Drax Hall, St Ann.

The semi-final pairings will be a repeat of two first-round games, Faulkland FC against Falmouth United in a western match-up at 1:00 pm, followed by Chapelton Maroons against Treasure Beach FC at 3:30 pm.

The teams will meet again next Saturday in the return legs with the winners on aggregate advancing to the final and also qualifying for the Premier League.

Faulkland FC topped the points tables with 26 points, three more than Chapelton Maroons. Treasure Beach was third with 22 points and Falmouth United ended with 20 points, edging Tru Juice FC on goal difference.

In their first meeting, Chapelton Maroons had beaten Treasure Beach while Falmouth United and Treasure Beach had ended in a 1-1 draw.

In Saturday’s games, on-form Faulkland FC and Chapelton Maroons will start favourites, but both games are expected to be closely contested.

Faulkland FC, who were cruelly knocked out of the last Premier League eliminations after using an ineligible player, got off to a flying start, winning their next six games after drawing with Falmouth United and never letting go of the lead, despite another draw and a loss to Treasure Beach, after they had secured a semi-final spot.

O’Brien Robinson was almost automatic for Faulkland FC and ended the regular season with 13 goals from all games, two more than Falmouth United’s Patrick Shecklude- and Chapelton’s Kaheim Dixon.

After their sluggish start, losing three of their first five games and being stuck at the bottom of the points tables, Falmouth United went on a tear, scoring six times in each of their next three games and eventually edged the equally prolific Tru Juice at the line.

Faulkland FC will also welcome back starting goalkeeper Garreth Dennis who was sent off against Treasure Beach in the penultimate round of games. They will need all the help to stop the Falmouth team that ended with 30 goals, 23 coming in their last six games.

Faulkland FC is the only team to score more than Falmouth United with 32 but conceded eight of their 15 goals allowed in their last four outings.

Chapelton started well, winning their first five games before hitting a skid but finished strong and will give Treasure Beach all they can handle.

Treasure Beach, however, has the best defensive record of the four semi-finalists, a feat that could work in their favour.

– Paul Reid