- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
Neisha Forbes of Portmore Strikers controls the ball ahead of Barbican's Jodi-Ann McGregor during their JFF/Sherwin Williams women's football semi-final yesterday. Barbican won 6-1 on aggregate.
Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
BARBICAN UNITED upstaged defending champions Portmore Strikers to reach the final of the Jamaica Football Federation/Sherwin Williams women's football competition after winning 6-1 on aggregate at home yesterday.
Barbican's coach Charlie Edwards went into yesterday's second semi-final with a 3-1 lead and Nicole Bell, Taneisha Francis and Cassandra McKoy ensured that they convincingly qualified with goals in the 34th, 53rd and 69th minutes respectively.
"It's always a good feeling to beat a champion and we are going to revel in the victory as much as possible," Edwards said after the game.
The game got off to a slow start and saw Barbican for most of the first half, leaving themselves vulnerable in midfield.
Despite this, Portmore were unable to capitalise.
Captain Denise Duncan anchored the team well but despite her best efforts along with Tashauna Vincent and a combined team effort, was unable to handle the challenge the home team presented.
ARRAY OF NATIONAL TALENT
Barbican, flaunting an array of national talent, tightened their game for a better showing in the second half as the forwards exploited the loopholes in Portmore's defence.
Portmore's coach, Keith Lattimore, attributed his team's loss to a lack of motivation. "I was not with the team for most of the season so I think that had a lot to do with how we have performed up to this stage. The players were just not motivated. We won twice before but this year is someone else's year.
I must commend Barbican for playing so well," he said.
Barbican has over the years managed to reach the semi-final and final stages of the competition but have never won.
They are hoping that this year will be their year to sip from the Cup but first they will have to overcome Untouchables who won yesterday's other semi-final against Harbour View.
Untouchables won 3-2 on aggregate after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
"The celebrations end tonight (last night) because we have to start focusing on the final. We need to look at the task ahead and study it very carefully so that we don't make too many crucial mistakes.
"We have always been up there with the best but this year we hope to reach the top," Barbican coach Edwards said.
A date has not yet been finalised for the playing of the first final game.
