Harmony close in on Major League crown

Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:

Mid-season champions Harmony FC moved a step closer to crowning themselves champions of the 2009-10 Trelawny Football Association National Rums of Jamaica-sponsored Major League, when they blanked Clarke's Town 2-0 in Tuesday's first-leg final at the Elleston Wakeland Youth Centre in Falmouth.

In a game that was keenly contested, the Delroy Delisser-coached Harmony secured their very good advantage going into Saturday's second-leg final, courtesy of goals from Howayne Sutherland and Kenardo Reid.

"This is a very good cushion going into the second-leg game as all we now need to do is to avoid defeat and we will be champions," said Delisser, who is also the daCosta Cup coach of Spot Valley High School.

Good performance

He added: "It was a good performance from the team today, and I am looking for an even better performance in the return game."

Should Harmony claim the title as expected on Saturday, they would not only take home the coveted National Rums Trophy, but also pocket $150,000 and earn qualification for the 2010-11 Western Confederation Super League.

"We are not counting our chickens before they are hatched, but we are already conditioning our minds to play Western Super League football next season," said Delisser. "We have a very good crop of players and we believe we have a far way to go in national football."

In Tuesday's first-leg final, the Clarke's Town team, which had suffered a 3-1 loss in the mid-season final to Harmony, turned in a gutsy performance in what was a bold bid to avenge that defeat. However, despite creating a few good opportunities, they failed to make use of the advantage by not scoring.

Harmony gradually began to take control towards the end of the game and got the first of their two goals in the 76th minute, when Sutherland worked his way behind the Clarke's Town defence and fired home.

With three minutes remaining, Harmony doubled their advantage when the alert Reid caught the Clarke's Town defence napping and finished on target with his close-range shot, making the final score 2-0.