St James FA semis begin Sunday
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The excitement level is expected to rise several levels on Sunday when the first-leg semi-finals in the St James Football Association Sandals Resorts International Major League begin.
Reggae Youths, who topped the points tables at the end of the regular season on Tuesday, will play Cambridge FC at the UDC field, while Granville United and Flankers FC will meet at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, both games set to start at 3:00 pm.
The return legs will be played next Thursday and the final set for February 4 at Wespow Park.
The semi-final pairings were decided on Tuesday when Cambridge FC played out a 1-1 draw against Granville United at the UDC field to edge Lilliput Rovers, who were beaten 2-1 by Reggae Youths at Spot Valley High.
Additionally, Flankers FC were awarded full points after Heights FC failed to field the minimum number of seven players for their game at Flankers.
Reggae Youths topped the points tables with 28 points, two more than Flankers FC; Granville United third with 23 points and Cambridge FC on 20 points.
Cambridge FC and Lilliput Rovers had gone into the final round of matches on 19 points each.
After stumbling late in the season, Reggae Youths finished strong with back-to-back wins, beating Heights FC 11-0 last week and coming from behind on Tuesday to beat Lilliput Rovers 2-1.
One of their losses late in the season was to Cambridge FC when they played with a depleted squad. However, the team will be back to full strength for the semi-finals.
Cambridge FC have fought their way back from near disaster, losing points for two games when they used an ineligible player and slipped all the way down the tables, but rallied in the second round.
The south St James club could have secured their place in the semi-finals from the previous round but were beaten by Lilliput Rovers before once again rallying against Granville on Tuesday to draw 1-1.
Flankers FC had two wins over Granville United this season and will be confident going into the semi-finals.
Flankers FC beat Granville United 3-1 in their first meeting and were awarded points after their return-round game was not played because the Granville United grounds was not prepared.
