Three battle for two semi-final spots in tier-two football
THREE teams will be chasing the last two semi-final places in the Jamaica Football Federation Tier Two competition while the leaders will clash to decide the top seed as the regular season comes to a close today.
Falmouth United and Treasure Beach FC are locked on 19 points, two more than Tru-Juice FC, and all three will be hoping to get one of the two remaining spots so as to join Faulkland FC and Chapelton Maroons in the semi-finals set to start in a week’s time.
Third-place Falmouth United will be away against Portlanders FC, Treasure Beach are home to Lime Hall Academy, and Tru-Juice faces last-placed Wadada United in Montego Bay.
While the matchup between the joint leaders should be the headline today, they have already secured their places and it will be anxious times for the other three teams on the verge.
Falmouth United have turned around their slow start with five straight wins and have kept clean sheets in their last two games — but today’s game will be the most important as they must win to ensure they will advance.
Patrick Shecklude has been the spark plug for the Falmouth United turnaround and he, along with Leon Irving and Dontae Green, will be expected to carry the fight for the Trelawny team.
Portlanders FC are only playing for pride as they cannot advance, but they could put up a fight by way of Kemar Miller and Marlon Pennicooke.
Treasure Beach showed true mettle after rebounding from a 2-0 loss to Falmouth United last weekend to beat leaders Faulkland FC 3-0, and the return of Captain Jordan Nembhard will boost their defence.
Nembhard was sent off in the loss to Falmouth United but his absence was not felt against a lazy-looking Faulkland FC in midweek, and they are expected to get the better of Lime Hall Academy at home.
Kadeem Stone scored a brace against Faulkland FC, his third of the season, and he should lead the Treasure Beach attack today alongside Rohane Brown.
Tru-Juice will have to hope either Falmouth United or Treasure Beach slip up for them to have any chance — even if they beat Wadada United in Montego Bay.
Tru-Juice are unbeaten in their last seven games but those include two draws. They did, however, have wins over Chapelton Maroons and Falmouth United during that run and led Faulkland FC three times before they had to settle for a draw in Montego Bay.
They are coming off a 6-1 win over Lime Hall — a round after handing Chapelton their only loss of the campaign — and if they get into the top four it would be a big achievement.
Faulkland FC must shake off their lethargic posture from Wednesday when they appeared to still be celebrating qualification for the semi-finals, as a draw would be enough for them to top the tables on goal difference over the Clarendon team who got into the top four with a big 5-1 win over Downs YC on Wednesday and who will have momentum on their side.
Faulkland FC’s O’Brien Robinson is tied for the scoring lead with Falmouth United’s Shecklude, both on 11, with Chapelton’s Kaheim Dixon one goal back on 10.
Today’s games
Portlanders FC vs Falmouth United @ Lynch Park
Faulkland FC vs Chapleton Maroons FC @ Wespow Park
Baptist Alliance vs Albion Mountain FC @ York Sports Complex
Treasure Beach FC vs Lime Hall Academy @ Breds Sportsground
Wadada United FC vs Tru Juice FC @ Irwin High
Downs YC vs Hopewell United @ Downs Community Centre
*All games start at 3:30 pm.
— Paul Reid