Racing and Tru-Juice seek third wins in Championships
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Joint leaders Racing United and Tru-Juice FC will be seeking to extend their winning starts in the Jamaica Football Federation Championships when they take on St Bess United and Baptist Alliance, respectively.
Racing United and Tru-Juice, semi-finalists last season, have both won their opening two games and are separated at the top of the points tables by goal difference. They both have six points each.
Baptist Alliance, who earned their first win last weekend, is tied on four points with Chapleton Maroons, who will face Browns Town at Drax Hall.
The Anthony Patrick-coached Racing United is off to another fast start and has scored seven unanswered goals in their two games, including a 5-0 hammering of former winners Faulkland FC last weekend.
Javaughn Cole scored a double against Faulkland FC, and he is expected to lead the Racing United team in their hunt for goals along with Joel Palmer and Deandre Johnson.
In two meetings in the Championships (formerly Tier II), Tru-Juice FC has never lost to Baptist Alliance and will start as favourites to win today, especially playing at home at the Bramwell Clarke Sports Complex.
Colicke Richards has scored two of Tru-Juice FC’s seven goals, but Baptist Alliance will hope Tamar Francis, who scored a hat trick against Portlanders FC last week, will be able to lead them to a first win over the St Catherine team.
Chapleton Maroons, finalists in the first staging of the Championships, and Browns Town both got their first win last weekend, both on the road and will be going for wins again on Saturday.
Chapleton is coming off a win over Falmouth United, while Brown’s Town beat Reno FC, and this match-up could be the best of the round between two teams hoping to stay in touch with the leaders.
Hopewell United, who came from a goal down to beat St Bess United last weekend, hosts Reno FC at Orchard and will hope to extend their winning run against the Westmoreland team, who they beat 3-1 at the same venue last season.
After a close loss in their opening game at Faulkland FC, Hopewell United rebounded with a 2-1 win over St Bess, while Reno FC’s only win so far came in the boardroom after they were awarded points for their game against Falmouth United.
Newcomers Petersfield FC will hope to extend Meadforest FC’s poor start when they meet at the Petersfield Community Centre, where they beat Gray’s Inn last week.
Petersfield FC received a warm welcome when they were hammered 5-0 by Tru-Juice in their opening game but rebounded last week and will have their eyes on a second straight win.
Falmouth United, at the foot of the points tables, having lost both games played so far, will hope to rebound against Portlanders FC, whom they beat 6-2 last season and drew with the previous season.
Portlanders FC will have home-field advantage, and both their games so far have produced five goals, winning 3-2 in their first game, then losing by the same scoreline last weekend.
Faulkland FC is another team that will need to rebound after their humiliation against Racing United at home last week and will face Gray’s Inn, who have lost both games played and are yet to score a goal.
Games Today:
– Hopewell United vs. Reno FC – Orchard Sports Complex
– Portlanders FC vs. Falmouth United – Lynch Park
– Browns Town vs. Chapleton Maroons – Drax Hall
– Gray’s Inn vs. Faulkland FC – Annotto Bay Sports Complex
– Petersfield FC vs. Meadforest FC – Petersfield High School
– Racing United vs. St Bess United – Prison Oval
– Tru Juice FC vs. Baptist Alliance – Bramwell Clarke Sports Complex