Race for places in the final of TFA Major League heats up
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The race for the Trelawny Football Association Grandeur Transportation Services/Monymusk Rum Major League title intensifies on Sunday with the playing of the first legs of the semi-finals at Elleston Wakeland Centre, starting at 1:30 pm.
Mid-season champions Falmouth United, winners of Zone One, face promoted Friendship FC in the first game, followed by Zone Two winners Duanvale FC against last year’s beaten finalists Coopers Pen.
The teams meet again the following Sunday in the return leg for places in the final set for June 3.
Based on form, Falmouth United should get the better of Friendship FC, despite a good run in their first season in the Major League. The tie between Duanvale FC and Coopers Pen could go either way as they are two closely matched teams.
Duanvale FC, the beaten mid-season finalists, topped Zone 2 with 22 points, two more than Coopers Pen FC who beat them in their most recent meeting late in April.
Duanvale FC ended the regular season with a big 9-1 thrashing of Daniel Town but had lost back- to-back games prior to that, one of them to Coopers Pen who avenged their first-round 1-2 loss.
On the other hand, Coopers Pen FC’s loss this year was to Duanvale FC in February, and since then they have gone seven games unbeaten, earning 19 of their 20 points, and outscoring teams 21-1 during their impressive winning run.
Coopers Pen FC, who scored just two goals in their first three games, will hope their momentum will continue based on their solid defensive organisation that has seen them concede just six goals all season.
Shannary Brown and Andre Palmer have combined to score 10 of Coopers Pen FC’s 23 goals and will lead the attack on Sunday, while Duanvale FC expect Kenroy Brown — with six goals — and Andre Coleman to help them get to the final.
Friendship FC scored all four of their wins in the second round to finish as runners-up in Zone One but were beaten twice by Falmouth United this season.
Falmouth United have dominated statistically with eight wins and two draws, scoring 30 goals and conceding just four, including a 2-2 draw against Holland United in their last regular season game last weekend.
Twelve players have scored at least one goal for Falmouth United this season, led by Jamar Scott with six goals, Antonio Roberts with five and Charles Grant with four.
