Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
GRANVILLE FC and Montpelier, fresh from their thrilling first leg 2-2 draw, will both be aiming to become the first finalist in the 2006 Captain's Bakery Western Super Football League when they square-off in this afternoon's second leg semi-final game at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay, starting at 3:30 p.m.
While both teams must fancy their chances of winning today, second end-of-round champions Granville, who are defending an 18-game unbeaten streak, should start favourites.
However, Montpelier, which showed unbelievable fight in coming from behind twice in the first-leg game, could prove deadly if they are able to reproduce that type of form.
"We have been working very hard all season and we are not about to give it away at this stage," said Tracy Reid, the coach of the Granville team. "We did not play as well as we should in the first leg but we are definitely looking forward to an improved performance."
FULL OF FIGHT
While clearly not having the impressive résumé of their opponents, the Montpelier team, which finished second behind Negril FC in Zone B of the competition's preliminary round, seems to be running into good form at the right time. As they showed in the first leg game, they are full of fight and is not a team to buckle under pressure.
"We are finally getting it right and we believe we are now ready to go all the way," said Montpelier's midfield star Denton Vidal, who scored his team's second goal.
"We will be going all out in the second leg because our aim is to have a Hanover team in the National Premier League."
LOOK SOLID
In terms of the players at her disposal, coach Reid should have very little concerns as the team look very solid allround with brothers Navardo and Llandel Fisher, Odain Snow, Davian Thelwell and Rodney Hines, who scored both goals in the first leg game which was played at the Rusea's High School grounds.
Montpelier also looks fairly competent as in addition to the experienced Vidal, the team has quality players in Sidney Riggan, Kirk Ellis, Lenore Campbell and the prolific Ledron Smith, the team's leading goalscorer.
The winner of today's game will played the winner of tomorrow's second-leg game between Negril FC and Sandy Bay. In their first-leg game, Negril carved out a 1-0 win to give them the edge going into the return game.
The eventual champions will take home the coveted Captain's Bakery Trophy and will earn the right to represent the west in the upcoming 2006-07 Wray & Nephew NPL elimination series, which will promote two replacements for the relegated Constant Spring and Rivoli.
