Federal rally for point against Springers
SPRINGERS FC and newcomers Federal United FC battled to a 2-2 draw at Jarrett Park on Saturday as both teams earned their first point in the Jamaica Women’s Premier League.
After being beaten 6-1 in their opening game the previous week, Federal United battled back from a two-goal deficit at half-time to earn a hard-fought draw as both teams expressed satisfaction with the result.
Trecia Booth, the Federal United coach, said she was happy with the result, although they had aimed for all three points. Springers’ Owen Barrett said having to travel to Granville to train plus the absence of some senior defenders cost them two points.
Meanwhile, defending champions Frazsiers Whip and Los Perfectos had back-to-back wins over Proven Girls and WiFi United, respectively.
Frazsiers Whip won 7-1 and Los Perfectos were 2-0 winners while Cavalier beat Mile Gully 4-1 and UWI Women beat Real MoBay 2-0.
Barrett said he was not happy giving up two goals in the second half but explained that their preparation was hampered due to the absence of some senior players for their opening game.
“We broke down in terms of our defence in the second half as we were not consistent in holding the line, as we were not at a level of match fitness that we were supposed to be,” he said. “We played well, and considering the fact that we are still having issues with training grounds, they did well.”
Springers trained at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in Granville.
Booth said she is also happy with how her young team performed.
“We are the youngest team in the competition and we mainly use high school players,” she said. “We came here for the three points but we ended up having to share the points, which is okay, but [we] really came to get the three points today.”
Booth said despite being newcomers they were aiming high, “We want to be in the top four. We know that it’s going to be a very hard task but, indeed, we are heading into the top four in the competition.”
Springers FC took the lead in the ninth minute when Jessica Harris’s shot was redirected by a Federal defender past goalkeeper Gabriel Hamilton, and former national junior representative Fedricka Finnikin added a second after she wormed her way into the Federal United 18-yard box and fired past Hamilton in the 23rd minute.
Federal pulled a goal back in the 50th minute when Africke Beckford beat goalkeeper Samoy Jackson, and Yasheka Lewis grabbed a point in the 56th minute when her left-footed curler from about 20 yards found the top left-hand corner of the goal.
Saturday’s results:
Los Perfectos 2, WiFi 0
Springers 2, Federal 2
Mile Gully 1, Cavalier 4
UWI 2, Real MoBay 0
Proven Girls 1, Frazsiers Whip 7
Springers FC’s Jahshieka Harris (left) tries to get around Federal FC’s Anesso Patterson in their Jamaica Women’s Premier League game played at Jarrett Park on Saturday. (Photos: Paul Reid)