Flankers FC, Reggae Youths return to St James FA final
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Former champions Reggae Youths and Flankers FC will meet in the finals of the St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Major League competiton after beating Green Pond SC and Lilliput Rovers, respectively, in the two-way semi-finals that ended on Saturday at Jarrett Park.
The final will be a repeat of the 2022-23 season in which Reggae Youths won, and this will be the third straight season that Flankers FC will be in the final after they were beaten by Granville United last season.
On Saturday, Flankers rallied from a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 with Lilliput Rovers in their second leg game and advanced 4-2 on aggregate after they won the first game 2-0.
Reggae Youths hammered Green Pond SC 4-0 in their return round game to advance 6-1 on aggregate after winning the first game 2-1.
Trailing by two goals after the first leg, Lilliput Rovers started well and were rewarded with goals from Ryan Baker in the fifth minute and Miguel Whitelock in the 27th minute to tie up the scores 2-2 on aggregate.
Flanker FC, however, restored their lead after Marvin Sangster converted a penalty kick in the 33rd minute and Jevon Walker scored a second for Flanker FC in the 45th minute, on the stroke of half time.
In the second game, Reggae Youths gave Green Pond SC no chance as Natoniel Wilson scored a double with two other goals coming in a two-minute span late in the second half.
Reggae Youths took the game away from Green Pond SC when Wilson scored in the 10th and Sachin Wilmot added a second in the 32nd minutes, Sebastian Robinson added a third from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute before Wilson completed his brace in the 74th minute.
– Paul Reid