Meadforest, Barbican clash in KSAFA semi

Regular season table-toppers, Meadforest go into their rescheduled Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Championship League semifinal against Barbican this evening at Stadium East, confident of continuing their good form.

The game, which was due to take place yesterday, but was postponed because of the inclement weather, will kick off at 8 p.m.

Meadforest top the nine-team standings with 21 points, scoring seven wins from eight matches, and the former Tivoli and Waterhouse coach, Fitzgerald, is expecting their good form to continue against the fourth-place finishers.

"We kept six clean sheets and we were only scored on in one game and that was against Santos, which we lost 2-1. So we have scored and not conceded in six of our games and we hope this trend will continue," Fitzgerald said.

Meadforest defeated the former Premier League campaigners 2-0 in the regular season, but Fitzgerald remains wary of Barbican's pedigree and is not taking them lightly.

"We beat them in the preliminary round, but Barbican are experienced. They have always been at this stage of the competition. They have won the competition already and have actually played in the Premier League, so they know how to play in the big games.

"I think we have a better-than-average chance of going to the final, but we know how dangerous Barbican can be, and we are very respectful of them. We just have to be prepared and be confident that we can do the double over them this season. and put ourselves in the final," Fitzgerald said.

Barbican's Chris James claimed they are going through a transition phase after losing several experienced players in the off-season, but still believes that in a one-off knockout match, their chances are good.

"We have taken a little time to get some chemistry. In the last few rounds, we were not looking too bad, but in the last week because of rain, we haven't trained well coming into this game, but we are looking to play some good football.

"Meadforest have been consistent the whole season. They have a lot of quality players and are more advanced, but this is a knockout game and anything can happen. It is who that come out and execute on the day," James commented.

The winner of the match will book a date with Real Mona in the Championship League final.

Meanwhile, in the second Major League semifinal, Marverly/Hughenden FC take on New Kingston FC, in the opening game of the doubleheader. Both teams will play for a place in the Major League final against Mountain View.