Anthony Minott, Freelance Reporter

Portmore Strikers Tashana Vincent (right) falls to the turf after a tough challenge from Barbicanís Yanique Goldspring during their JFF/Sherwin Williams Womenís Premier League second leg semi-final match at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex on Saturday night. Portmore Strikers won 1-0 to advance to the final 3-2 on aggregate.- photo by Anthony Minott

Waterhouse Football Club's coach, Xavier Gilbert, is confident that his team will give him victory against Portmore Strikers in the first leg final of the JFF/Sherwin Williams Women's Premier League match at Barbican Sports Complex today. Kick-off time is 3:00 p.m.

"I am very confident that the girls will do well," Clarke said. "We played Portmore on three ocassions, we beat them once, they beat us on one occasion and the third was drawn 2-2, with Portmore coming from behind.

"We are going to play hard, it will be a complete team effort," Gilbert assured.

good team effort

Even though Gilbert is expecting a good team effort, he is also banking on the experience of his overseas-based players, Omolyn Davis, Kylela Brownhill and Natalya Manion to get them past a tough Portmore Strikers team.

Strikers' coach, Cornel Clarke, said his team is still bothered with injuries, but noted his girls will give a good account of themselves.

"We still have a number of injuries in our camp but we will get by. We have beaten them (Waterhouse) before, but, it's a final and I am expecting a tough match. It should be an exciting game as Waterhouse havs been strengthened with their overseas players," Clarke noted.

experience will be key

Strikers will depend heavily on experienced players Venecia Reid, Tashana Vincent, Rochelle Bryan and Iesha 'Pearl' Mowatt for their third hold on the title.

In last week's semi-finals, Strikers defeated Barbican 3-2 on aggregate, after beating their opponents 1-0 in the second leg encounter, while Waterhouse got by defending champions Harbour View 1-0 on aggregate, winning the second leg 1-0, as the first leg was drawn 0-0.

The opening game of the day pit Arnett Gardens against Reno at 1:00 p.m. in a the 'A' League first leg final battle.

Reno eliminated St. Catherine Upliftment 8-1 on aggregate, while Arnett edged Trelawny Women 3-2 on aggregate.