Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The two football teams that will contest the final of the Captain's Bakery Western Super League will be decided this afternoon when the competition's top four teams square off in a big second-leg semi-final double-header at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay, starting at 4:00 p.m.

In the opening game at 4:00 p.m., St James' Salt Spring, with a first leg 2-1 advantage, will tackle Westmoreland's Negril, while in the feature game at 6:00 p.m., reigning champions Granville and former NPL outfit Wadadah will be aiming to break their first leg 0-0 deadlock in what is a Montego Bay derby.

Despite their one-goal advantage, Salt Spring, which came from behind to snatch victory in the first leg, cannot afford to relax against the Negril team which has a deadly striker in Howard Phillips, who is renowned across western Jamaica for his goalscoring prowess.

battle royal

Salt Spring must be hoping that striker Torey Samuels, who got both goals in the first leg, and Vinroy Allen, who has been tormenting defenders with his speed down the flanks, will report in top form and provide the ammunition to blunt Negril's bid to upstage them.

The second game promises to be a battle royal because while Wadadah had the better of the first-leg game, the Granville team, fresh from their surprise 2-1 win against national champions Portmore United in their COK Knockout fixture on Thursday, must be bubbling with an endless amount of confidence.

gifted outfit

In terms of experience, the Delroy Delisser-coached Wadadah looks a gifted outfit with the likes of Markino Gillings, Rohan Reid, Omar Christie and the crafty Curtis Palmer. In fact, the coach is adamant that Granville's reign as champions will end this afternoon.

"We believe we are the better team and we intend to prove it on Saturday," Delisser told The Gleaner. "We are not only looking at getting into the final but also at reclaiming a place in the National Premier League."

However, Granville have been enjoying a phenomenal season, cutting down Seba United in the COK before knocking out Portmore United. They will be hard to beat because they are blessed with arguably some of the top young players in St James.

The Granville assault is expected to revolve around top striker Jermaine Anderson, Garth Johnson, Damion Reid, midfield maestro Jason Rose, Davion Thelwell and experienced goalkeeper Loxley Reid.

"The team is currently on a high and we believe once we play to our full potential we can beat any team," said Tracy Reid, the coach of the Granville team. "We are confident and we are ready."

The eventual champions will earn qualification to the NPL elimination, from which two teams will qualify for the Premier League. In addition, the champion will take home the Captain's Bakery Trophy and $150,000.