Tigers blank Signal Hill to reach final

The Westmoorings Tigers brushed aside Signal Hill 3-0 in their semifinal at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.

The North Zone champions took the lead in the 21st minute, when Jemali Garcia converted a penalty after Mourba Ballah was fouled in the box.

Keane Mc Ivor then made it 2-0 with a right-foot shot into the bottom left corner of the net, past goalkeeper Shaquille King in the 40th minute, after a give and go play with Jean-Paul Aqui.

Luke Hernandes should have increased the advantage, but his shot hit the post in the 51st minute. Signal Hill had its best chance in the 67th minute, however Darryl Trim fired wide of the mark from close range after the Westmoorings Tigers failed to clear a ball.

Standing captain Rayshard Allen then sealed the deal in the 78th minute from the penalty spot, after the speedy Andel Francois was brought down by Jeremiah Bishop.

Four minutes later, Bishop’s fellow central defender Shaquille Mc Letchie was shown a second yellow card by referee Ashby Mc Phie for a reckless challenge on Francois.

The final had to be switched from the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo to the Larry Gomes Stadium due to the hosting of a concert.

The concert which was initially slated for the Queen’s Park Oval, was shifted for security and safety reasons, since the turnout is expected to be far more than what the organisers initially planned for.

William Wallace, 2nd vice-president of the SSFL said while they made the booking since August, they were only informed about the change yesterday, which threw things into a spin.

He added that they were then given the option of the Larry Gomes in the East and the Mannie Ramjohn in South. “We will most likely take the offer for the Larry Gomes, since it will be one team from the East and one from North in the final,” said Wallace.

Yesterday’s Big Five Result

St Anthony’s 3 (Jemali Garcia (pen) 21st, Keane McIvor 40th, Rayshard Allen (pen) 78th) vs Signal Hill 0.