Top four take aim at finals tomorrow

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Napoli will be seeking to protect their surprise first-leg 1-0 win against First Choice while Challengers and Anchovy will be aiming to break their 2-2 deadlock when the 2011 Steve Bucknor Western Masters Football League moves into its crucial second-leg semi-final games tomorrow afternoon at 4.

The star-studded First Choice, who not only lost their 100 per cent record but also gave up their first goal of the season in their first leg away loss to Napoli, will be gunning for revenge in their game at the UDC playing field, in Montego Bay; while Challenger, who led twice against Anchovy, will be hoping for better luck on their home turf in Westgreen.

Looking ahead to their game against Napoli, First Choice - which features the likes of former national players Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, Daniel Ricketts, Christopher Harris and Al McFarlane - should be fully focused as they seek to turn the tables on opponents, many felt that they would have walloped in their first-leg matchup.

Having ripped the veil of invincibility off First Choice, the Napoli team will no doubt be hoping that lightning will strike in the same place twice. In fact, having scored the lone goal in the first-leg game, Napoli's Nigel Stewart could well enter the game with giant-killing expectations.

For the game against Anchovy, Challengers' player/coach Ricky Warburton is hoping that, unlike in the first-leg game, his team will put away the chances they create. Last week, Challengers created numerous chances, but on account of faulty finishing - especially from Davis Gordon - victory eluded them.

"We should have won the first-leg game, but we wasted too many chances," said Warburton. "We are nonetheless confident that we will do better on our home turf in the return game."

However, having battled back gallantly twice to hold Challengers to a 2-2 draw, the hard-running Anchovy team should be high on confidence knowing that, with the right application, they have the capacity to make things tough for their opponents.

In the first-leg game which was played at the Bogue playing field, Omar Clarke and Gordon scored for Challengers, while Howard McCain and Oniel Ford replied for Anchovy.

In addition to the enviable achievement of emerging western Jamaica's best, the eventual winners of the competition will take home the Steve Bucknor Trophy and gold medals. The beaten finalists will receive silver medals.

Today

St James Social Development Cricket

Granville vs Catherine Hall at Spot Valley - 10 a.m.

Police vs Arcadia at Spot Valley - 2 p.m.

Orange vs Kensington at Orange - 10 a.m.

Farm Heights vs Niagra at Orange - 2 p.m.

St James Senior League Netball

Angels 'B' vs Juveniles at Montego Bay Boys' Club - 3:30 p.m.

Crystal vs Starlight Juniors at Montego Bay Boys' Club - 5 p.m.

Tomorrow

Trelawny National Rums Football SECOnd-Leg Semis

Flames FC vs Invaders SC at Sea Road playing field - 3 p.m.

Kinloss FC vs Granville FC at Friendship playing field - 3 p.m.

St James Senior League Netball

Twelve Stars vs Starlight A at Montego Bay Boys' Club - 3 p.m.

Blazers vs Angels 'B' at Montego Bay Boys' Club - 5 p.m.

St James Masters League Second-leg Semi-Final

First Choice vs Naploli at UDC playing field - 4 p.m.

Challengers vs Anchovy at Westgreen playing field.