Granville grab last semi-final place
GRANVILLE, St James — Granville United completed their remarkable comeback from a horrendous start to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill Western Confederation Super League with a 3-1 win over relegated Petersfield in Sunday’s final set of preliminary round matches.
At the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College grounds in front of their home fans, Granville beat Petersfield FC to move to 26 points and take the fourth semi-finals spot after Holland United, their only challengers for the position, drew 1-1 against Catherine Hall.
Granville FC managed one point from their first four games where they failed to score a goal and seven points from their first eight games before a remarkable fightback in the second half of the season.
Reno FC finished the preliminaries as the top team with 36 points after beating Harmony FC 2-0 on Sunday; Tomorrow’s People are next on 35 points with Wadadah FC in the third spot on 31 points, drawing 1-1 against Norwood Strikers.
In tomorrow’s first leg semi-finals at Frome, Tomorrow’s People and Wadadah will meet in the first game set for 1:30 pm, followed by Reno against Granville.
The return leg semi-finals will be played next Tuesday, April 23 at Jarrett Park.
On Sunday, Granville FC took an early lead when Jeffroy Leslie scored in the 16th minute to give the home team the lead at half time.
David Waite added a second goal in the 59th minute before Romario Whyte pulled one back for Petersfield, but Davion Thelwell’s 80th-minute goal restored Granville’s two-goal cushion and killed of the game as a contest.
Reno made hard work of their game against Harmony with Denmark Gillings scoring in the 56th minute and Craig Foster in the 89th to see off Harmony 2-0 at Bunkers Hill.
At the UDC field, Wadadah came from behind to draw 1-1 with Norwood Strikers. Roshane Reid got away from two defenders in the 28th minute to beat goalkeeper Tristan Bernard.
Wadadah drew level from the penalty shot when Loxley Thomas converted in the 36th minute.
Holland and Catherine Hall also drew 1-1, as Marlon Excell gave Catherine Hall the lead after 17 minutes, before Romaine Lewis scored in the 42nd minute to give the home team a share of the points.