After a year’s absence due to a lack of sponsorship, the revamped six million dollar Women’s Football League – which will see a new champion crowned – returns this Saturday with a full slate of four matches.
The League, which has attracted the partnership of the Lascelles Chin Corporative Credit Union and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), has been sponsored to the tune of $6.5 million with the winner to walk away with $500,000.
Real MoBay and Trelawny Women are the western teams in the draw and they have been placed in Zone B, alongside Arnett Gardens and SC Monarchs.
The Real MoBay team, under the guidance of Marvin Peterkin, is scheduled to open their campaign against the usually high-flying Arnett Gardens at the Green Pond High School, kicking off at 4 p.m.
The home team has been going through their paces ahead of the fixture and their coach Peterkin – who knows his way around the winning circle – told the Western Mirror that this time around, his team “is expected to give a good account”.
“We are packed with young talent; we have been putting in the training and though we’re not fully at 100 percent, our players are ready for the challenge and to perform well and give a good showing in the season.”
“We have missed out on progress to the second round in recent seasons, but this year, with the wealth of talent at our disposal and their eagerness to shine, I’m expecting a really solid season,” the soft-spoken Peterkin declared.
TRELAWNY TEAM AT HOME
Meanwhile, the second western team in the competition, Trelawny Women, are also listed for competition at home as they are scheduled to face off with SC Monarchs at the Elleston Wakeland Centre.
Ten teams separated into two zones of five are down to participate in this year’s League. Real MoBay, Trelawny Women, Arnett Gardens, Olympic and SC Monarchs are the teams paired in Zone B. Waterhouse, St. Ann Women, Rangers FC, Fraizers Whip and Cavaliers are the teams listed for competition in Zone A.
Three heavyweights, G.C. Foster, Los Perfectos and Barbican – who has won the title for the last nine seasons – will not take part in this year’s League for undisclosed reasons.

By Noelita Lawrence

Only one game was possible on Wednesday, July 25, as Montego Bay United (MBU) failed to field a team for their clash against the much-touted Maldon.

With more than 20 minutes gone into the scheduled start time, and two whistles blown by the officials on hand, MBU had only four players at the venue awaiting the kick off whistle, which was blown off shortly before 3 p.m.

In the game played, Osawld Smith struck the winner six minutes from time as Westgreen turned in an efficient performance to earn three vital points in a narrow, but entertaining 2-1 victory over the fast starting KingGate.

Antonio Kerr, in the third minute, provided the other goal for the Westgreen team while Rainnar Barnes hit the back of the net for the losing King Gate outfit.

Westgreen made an explosive start to the clash and raced unto the scoresheet mere 180 seconds into the match when the nippy Kerr raced unto a ball over the top before lobbing it past the advancing goalkeeper at an acute angle and into the top corner of the net.

Westgreen dictated the pace from there on and had a few other chances to increase the advantage but were wasteful. The much travelled Everado Chambers could have had a hat-trick inside 12 minutes after the go-ahead goal, but missed on all three occasions when clean in, including an unchallenged header from inside the six yard box.

Chambers ghosted into the area, getting on the end of a well weighted delivery, but despite going up uncontested, he flicked his header well wide of the target, with the goalkeeper not even having to make a save.

The Westgreen team, clad in their new outfit and without the services of pointman Alex Forbes, also struck the crossbar from long-range before the follow up shot – with the keeper still beaten – sent agonizingly over a bar.

Seconds after the miss, KingGate had the opportunity to level things from point blank range, but Jovain McNish fluffed and had his shot charged down by a brave goalkeeper who dived low at his feet to block the goal-bound effort.

Westgreen puffed afterwards, but still failed to trouble their opponents’ goal for a second time, until Smith popped up to snatch the winner in dramatic and sensational fashion.

TWO BIG BATTLES
Action in the competition continues later today (Friday, July 27) with another double header at the UDC field.

Rosemount will open their account in the event when they line up against Cambridge, who made a losing start to their quest in controversial fashion.

Both will be looking for a first win in a bid to kick start their campaign, but the Rosemount team is likely to start as favourites as they boast an array of talent in their ranks.
That clash begins at 2 p.m. – two hours ahead of the fixture between Heights and Bogue.

Both enter the battle with much to compete for as Heights were peppered in their opening match while Bogue fought hard to mark a victory.

Two exciting games are expected, with each of the four teams hoping for a vital three points to keep alive their chances of advancing in the competition.

By Noelita Lawrence

Exciting Sanjay Patterson struck twice in twelve minutes as Bogue survived a sending and wretched officiating, to pull off a pulsating come-from-behind 3-2 triumph over Granville in the second series of matches played in the St. James FA Sandals International Under-17 competition played on Wednesday, July 18 at the UDC field.

Patterson who had been kept quite early on burst into life just after the hour mark and struck the back of the net in the 66 and 68th minutes adding to the 48 minute goal by Oneil Higgins.

Goals from Jay Clarke and Shaquoy Troupe had seen the Granville team race into a comfortable 2-0 cushion inside the opening 18 minutes.

Bogue was reduced to ten men midway the second half after Christopher Slowely was dubiously given marching orders.

Granville was like a runaway train in the opening stages of the contest, playing a well drilled unit, running rings around their opponents.

They deservedly went ahead after 14 minutes when Troupe ghosted at the back post to use his knee to tuff home the ball from a corner kick. The lead was doubled four minutes later when Clarke rifled in a left footed free kick.

It was all Granville then as they strolled effortlessly along the park.

However, Bogue rallied in the second half and produced three telling strikes including the winner two minutes from time as they snatched the impressive victory.

Bogue got their lifeline back into the feisty affair with a 48th minute penalty conversion before a chip over the advancing goalkeeper’s head saw them leveling the scores at 2-2.

Moving freely and looking more threatening with every attack, Patterson pulling the strings on the front line for Bogue, then clinched the victory as his penetrative dribble inside the 18 yard box caused chaos among the Granville back line.

In their hesitance to clear, Patterson latched on to stab in at the near post with the defense at sixes and sevens.

The action continues later today (Friday, July 20) with MoBay City opening up their campaign against Westgreen who will be looking to tick off a win after defeat in their opening encounter.

By Noelita Lawrence