In Your Neighbourhood

Anthony Minott and Richard Bryan

INSPORTS St Catherine FA Masters Football League kicks off

Fifteen teams are down to compete in the inaugural Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) St Catherine Football Association Masters Football League, which was officially launched last Sunday at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

In games played last Sunday, Christian Ambassadors defeated Maxfield 3-1 and D.B. Basovak tagged Constant Spring 2-0.

The competition is divided into three zones, as the top two teams, plus the two best runners-up will play in the quarter-finals.

Cumberland, Racing shoot for KO title

The final of the York Pharmacy-sponsored Portmore Division Two knockout football competition will be played between Cumberland and Racing United at the Cedar Grove Sports Complex tomorrow afternoon, beginning at 3 p.m.

In semi-final action, Cumberland defeated Cedar Grove 2-1, while Racing's win over Braeton United was a no-contest as the Gregory Park-based club ran out 4-1 winners.

Interestingly, Braeton won the midseason crown.

Mega domino

clash in Portmore

All eyes will be on the mega clash between co-leaders Right Stuff and Spit Fyah in the City of Kingston Cooperative Credit Union-sponsored Portmore Domino League. The match will be played in Right Stuff's backyard, Gem Bar, in Waterford, beginning at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Both clubs are on 29 points apiece from eight games and a win for either team will see the victor ascending to the top of the standings.

In other games, third-placed Exceptional International (25 points) travel to take on Soursop Tree; Naggo Head are at home against Unity Strikers at Naggo Head Bus Park; Fort International (25 points), joint third place, journey to play home team Chedwin Strikers; Spring Village welcome Correctional Services; Garveymeade host Felluchi Strikers at Garveymeade Sports Club; Highlight Strikers entertain Waterhouse at Christian Pen; while Memory Lane are at home against Masterpiece in Waterford.

Cedar Grove's

big shot

Cedar Grove Estate FC have everything going for them now, a new Sports Complex and a vibrant community. Now, all they need is a football title. That could change on Sunday, March 13 as they take on arch-rivals Braeton United in the York Pharmacy-sponsored Portmore Division Two Football League. The venue for this match is yet to be decided.

This is a repeat of this season's midseason final and the game can swing either way. Braeton won the last meeting 2-1. In semi-final action, last Sunday Cedar Grove defeated Edgewater 1-0, while Braeton United clipped Cumberland 2-1.

Ready, aim, fire!

Juniors aim for shotgun glory

Scores of junior competitors will come out tomorrow to take aim at top honours in the Shotgun Sporting Clay Event at the Jamaica Skeet Club in Portmore, St Catherine.

The Skeet Club is located just off the Dyke Road in the proximity of the Portmore Toll Road. This is one of the various competitions for Jamaica SportsFeva 2016. Event though mainly Private High Schools such as Hillel Academy and AISK, just to name a few take part in team and individual contests, some athletes from Government-run schools are also down to compete.

Organisers are urging fans to come and "witness perfect precision as our competitors aim with nerves of steel to reach as many targets as they can in our annual Clay Feva competition."

The event is driven by Mitsubishi Jamaica.

Second round battle in Clarendon

Three quarter-final spots are yet to be taken in the 2016 Clarendon Football Association (CFA)/Captain's Bakery Major League football competition.

Of the eight possible spots, Kemps Hill from Group One, Jamalco and New Bowens from Group Two and Sporting Central Academy from Group Three have secured berths. With a three-zone preliminary format, the top two are automatic qualifiers from each group, with the eight completed by two best third-placed teams.

Tomorrow's clash between Group One teams Comfort and York Town could unearth two more places. York Town, who are second behind Kemps Hill on 13 points, only need a draw against Comfort to secure an automatic berth. Comfort are so placed that a draw will not hurt their chances as they can still secure one of the best third-placed qualifying spots.

Of the five qualifiers so far, defending champions Jamalco have been most impressive. The have 19 points from seven games, which also includes six wins and a draw.

In their last game, away to Lionel Town, former Premier League striker Kimroy Davis scored in the 46th minute of play on his debut for Jamalco to hand them a 1-0 win and provide Jamalco's sixth win.

Technical Strikers lead Manchester Division One

Following three completed matches in the first round of the Jamalco-sponsored Manchester Division One, Technical Strikers are the clear leaders. They have mined maximum nine points from three games.

Second are Starz Academy with seven points, compiled from two wins and a draw, with Los Perfectos on five points. Fourth is narrowly held on goal difference by Trinity, who have four points. In fact, the latter leads a quartet of teams that have also mined four points.

Two of the three matches played earlier this week produced drawn results. Los Perfectos, aided by an own goal, ended 2-2 with Starz Academy, while 360 Degrees and Plowden drew 0-0. The third match saw Mandeville United outscoring Epping Forest 3-2 in an away encounter.

For Mandeville United, Jordan Watson scored a double, but it was Richard Larmond's brace aided by Marion Larmond's lone strike which tilted the balance for the victors.

New Reggae Boyz' recruit from St Elizabeth

Football in St Elizabeth appears to have been energised by news which emerged this week that a key player from one of its Major League teams has been drafted into the Winfried Schafer-coached men's national senior football team training squad for 2018 World Cup.

That player is Swayne Thomas, who has been creating waves throughout the parish ever since he was transferred from York FC in St Thomas in the January 2016 transfer window.

So far he has scored eight goals for St Bess FC, transforming the campaign of the newcomers to the St Elizabeth Magnum Major League.

St Bess did not make the midseason final two weekends ago, which was contested between Black Star FC and Real Treasure Beach. However, with two games to complete the return phase of the preliminary round, St Bess are nicely perched to make the semi-finals as they hold second place with 29 points.

At this stage, they have packaged the best goalscoring statistics scoring 44 and conceding nine for a positive overwhelming difference of 35. This is 10 better than leaders Black Star.

Semi-final fever in St Elizabeth Major League

The jostling for semi-final spots in the St Elizabeth Magnum Major League could be intensified with this weekend's playing of key contests involving the top five contenders.

Black Star, who won the midseason final, have already booked their place, amassing 37 points. However, with four matches to complete the preliminary phase, the quartet of St Bess (29), Holland Police Youth Club (27) and Real Treasure Beach FC (25) and Appleton (17) can significantly advance their positions.

Today's matches: 1. Vineyard YC vs Newell United at Vineyard, 2. Real Treasure Beach FC vs Holland PYC at Treasure Beach Sports Park, 3. Super Action YC vs Haughton United at Holland. Match time is 3:30 p.m.

Tomorrow's matches: 1. Tafari Lions FC vs Appleton Estate FC at Lacovia at 1:30 p.m., 2. St Bess FC vs Black Star FC at Lacovia at 3:30 p.m.