Portmore United's goalscorer, Mario Swaby (left) shrugs off a challenge from Tru-Juice's Kemar Ferguson during their St Catherine Football Association/'Happy' Sutherland knock-out quarter-final match at the Ferdie Neita Park on Saturday, December 13. Portmore won 3-1, and will play arch-rivals Naggo Head F.C. in a semi-final match on Thursday, at the Prison Oval in a repeat of last year's final. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Portmore United set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with last year's winner, Naggo Head F.C., in the St Catherine Football Association/'Happy' Sutherland Knock-Cut competition, following a 3-1 victory over Tru-Juice F.C. of Spanish Town, in the feature quarter-final match at the Ferdie Neita Park on Saturday.

Naggo Head upset Portmore, the reigning Premier League cham-pions, 6-5 on penalties in last year's final and Portmore may have a point to prove.

Pleased with victory

"(Against Naggo Head) we want to stamp our authority. We lost the knock-out last year and we want it back, we want to put our best foot forward out there so we can win it," said Linval Dixon, head coach of Portmore United.

He was pleased with the victory against Tru-Juice, but was not totally satisfied with the finishing. "Basically I'm satisfied with the win, but I think if the guys had put away their chances we could have won the match by a wider margin," Dixon surmised.

Portmore's victory was set up through goals from marksman Roen Nelson (7th), Mario Swaby (26th) and Kevin Deerr (53rd). Tru-Juice's Flavius Sewell struck in the 42nd minute, to secure his team's only goal.

Tru-Juice's head coach, Curtis Hamilton, believes his team is not match-sharp as yet.

"We have to assess our team's performance today. We lapsed in some areas but I'm pleased with the result. We were playing against the defending champions of the Premier League and think the guys gave a good effort. We aren't match-fit as yet as the season has just started, while Portmore are well into theirs."

Other semi-final

The other semi-final pits Major League club Meadows, which whipped Super League campaigners Newland 5-1 in the earlier game at Ferdie Neita Park, against division two outfit Royal Lakes, the first division two side to make it this far.

Meadows' win was spearheaded by Davion Dilworth's hat-trick of goals, while Jason Vassell scored a brace.

On paper it should be a Portmore, Meadows final, but just don't rush to put in your bets as yet as this year's knock-out has been laced with upsets.

The semi-finals are tentatively set for this Thursday at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.