Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ORGANISERS of the Captain's Bakery Western Super Football League earned the wrath of football fans in Montego Bay yesterday afternoon as after going to two separate venues for the second-leg semi-final game between Granville and Montpelier, the fans subsequently learnt that the game had been called off without notice.
At Jarrett Park, the fans were told that that facility has been close for refurbishing pending its use for practice games ahead of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and that the game had been switched to the Catherine Hall Stadium.
However, when they went to Catherine, the ground staff said they were unaware of any plans to play the game there.
"We were ready and raring to go," Granville's coach Tracy Reid told The Gleaner when she was contacted. "I got a call from the co-ordinator today saying that the game has been rescheduled for Catherine Hall Stadium on Thursday."
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
This afternoon's second leg semi-final game between end of first round champions Negril FC, which won the first-leg game 1-0, and Sandy Bay FC, is slated to go ahead as planned for the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland, starting at 3:30 p.m.
This afternoon's game, the fourth meeting between the teams this season, promises to be an epic affair. In the first meeting between the teams, the competition's first end of round final, Negril won 4-2. In their second game, a cross-zone fixture, Sandy Bay won 2-1, and in last week's first leg semi-final, Negril returned to winning ways, registering a 1-0 margin.
"I think we are a much better side than Sandy Bay and we are aiming to prove that in this game," said Negril's manager Junior Francis. "We did not play well in the first-leg game but we still won the game, so naturally we are quite confident of winning today."
The Sandy Bay team, which appeared quite ordinary in the first-leg semi-final game, is a team that has shown this season that they are a capable unit. While their overall record is not flattering, their cross-zone win against Negril has shown that with the right attitude and application, they are capable of producing the goods.
"Once we go out there composed and play to instructions, I believe we have a good chance of winning this game," said Sandy Bay's coach, Corporal Craig Oates. "We have beaten this team already and I am confident that we can do it again."
In terms of the individual records of the team, Negril played 18 games, won eight, drew six and lost four, while Sandy Bay have played 17, won six, draw seven and lost four. Negril have scored 29 goals and conceded 21, while Sandy Bay have scored 21 and conceded 14.
