Granville FC's Jason Rose (left) skips by Sandy Bay's Carlington McFarlane during Tuesday's Captain's Bakery Western Super Football League semi-final between the sides at the Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay. Granville won 3-0. - Photo by Adrian Frater

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

GRANVILLE FC took a giant step towards securing a place in the final of the 2006-07 Captain's Bakery Western Super Football League when they blanked Sandy Bay 3-0 in their first-leg semi-final at the Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay on Tuesday.

In a dominant performance steep in intensity and purpose, burly striker Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson was at his flawless best for the Granville team, scoring all three goals - one in the first half and two in the second.

"We came here today anxious to make a strong statement to our detractors and I think we did just that," said Granville's female coach, Tracy Reid. "Sandy Bay can expect more of the same in Saturday's second-leg game as we will be seeking to improve on today's performance."

In the other first-leg semi-final between champions Negril FC and Montpelier in Negril, which was also played on Tuesday, the teams battled to a 0-0 stalemate, setting up a do-or-die second-leg clash.

Started with a bang

Granville started the game with a bang and should have taken the lead in the first minute when skipper Rodney Hines dribbled through the heart of the Sandy Bay defence but fired wide of the goal.

After surviving a Sandy Bay counter-attack in the 12th minute when Melvin Donalds booted wide from close in, Granville went into overdrive and eventually took the lead the 40th minute. Anderson turned sweetly in the goal area and cracked a left-footer past the goalkeeper.

With Sandy Bay offering only token resistance, Granville missed two early second-half chances to widen their lead through Hines in the 51st and 61st minutes. First, he fumbled badly before the goal and then slotted wide with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

However, Anderson was again on target in the 67th minute. After being fouled about 35 yards from the goal, the striker cracked his savage free kick through the defensive wall and past the goalkeeper, making the score 2-0.

Granville added a third goal in the 74th minute when Anderson completed his hat-trick courtesy of a defensive error. A defender failed to control a ball and the alert Anderson took possession, dribbled two paces and then fired home, making the score 3-0.

Towards the end of the game, Granville introduced speedy striker Odane Snow in a bid for more goals. However, despite creating a few chances, he failed to add to the team's tally.