Anthony Minott, Freelance Reporter

Portmore Strikers players celebrate the winning goal against Barbican during their JFF/Sherwin Williams Women's Premier League second-leg semi-final match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Saturday night. Portmore Strikers won 1-0 to advance to the final 3-2 on aggregate. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

It took grit and determination from a wounded Portmore Strikers to defeat arch-rivals Barbican 1-0 in their JFF/Sherwin Williams Women's Premier League second-leg semi-final match at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex on Saturday night.

In the first semi-final at the venue, Waterhouse made it to their first league final when they upset defending champions Harbour View 1-0, courtesy of an own-goal in the 65th minute. Waterhouse advanced 1-0 on aggregate as the first leg was drawn 0-0.

The all-important goal in the feature match was netted by Rochelle 'Chunky' Bryan in extra time, the 101st minute, after she received a defence-splitting pass from substitute Sheree Marrow and slotted past Nikkeshi Thomas in goal for Barbican.

Strikers advanced 3-2 on aggregate as the first leg was drawn 2-2.

"We had a wounded team out there and we still pulled it off. A number of our starters were injured and couldn't play today, even some of the players who played went in with injuries. I was thinking of forfeiting the game and my players promised me they will tough it out, and they did extremely well," Portmore Strikers coach, Cornel Clarke, said after the game.

Portmore surrendered the midfield in the second half, putting 10 players behind the ball and hoping for a breakaway chance.

Barbican all out

Barbican, on the other hand, went all out for the win but kept missing easy chances, both from their forwards and midfielders. Alicia James missed a one-on-one with Strikers' goalie Peatria Campbell five minutes into the game when she kicked over the crossbar. Nichole Berwise could have won it for her team minutes into extra time, but kicked wide from point-blank range; Nadola Chase, Hishamar 'Messam' Falconer, Jody-Ann McGreggor, and Kenesha Reid also got their chances but botched them.

Barbican coach, Charles Edwards, was not a happy man.

"I'm extremely disappointed with the loss. We missed too many opportunities to score and it came back to haunt us tonight," he said.