Barbican banking on experience to make RSPL return

Despite their 3-0 victory over Wadadah in the first match of the Magnum/Charley's JB/Jamaica Football Federation Premier League promotion series, captain of Barbican FC, Ramone 'Passa' McGregor, said that it was a tough encounter at Jarrett Park last Sunday.

Shaquille 'Driver' Lewis scored twice in the second half, while substitute Loxley Thompson sealed the deal late in the game and handed the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) champion a good start in the opening round.

"It was not an easy victory for us. In the first half, the game was tough and ended 0-0. In the second half, we came out with more fighting spirit and hunger for the full points and at the end, we came away winners," McGregor told STAR Sports yesterday.

McGregor said playing away didn't change his team's objective of trying to win all the games of the series in order to secure one of two qualification spots available among the four participating clubs to play in next season's Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).

"Shaquille is a good young player, who is growing in the game and chances like those that came in the match he will score them. Then Loxley came on and added his goal," he added.

EXPERIENCE

"We are treating each game as a final. We went there with the plan to win the game, although we were in Wadadah's backyard," McGregor shared.

The defender said that the team, which is packed with players who have played in the Premier League in the past, will be pulling on its experience to achieve its objective.

"We have an experienced group of players that have been in the play-off before and also in the Premier League, so that is an advantage for us. We know what to do and have the right mindset of taking it one game at a time," McGregor pointed out.

Barbican will now turn their attention to Dunbeholden, who were also winners on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Mount Pleasant 2-1.

In tomorrow's second-round fixture, Barbican will host Dunbeholden at Barbican Complex, starting at 4 p.m. and Mount Pleasant play Wadadah at Drax Hall in St Ann, beginning at 4 p.m.

At the completion of the promotion series, the top two teams will advance to the 2018-19 RSPL.

Points standing

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Barbican 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3

Dunbeholden 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3

Mount Pleasant 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

Wadadah 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0