Mile Gully and Cooper's Pen clinch Jamaica Football Championships berths on Sunday

Two clubs from central Jamaica sealed places in next season's Jamaica Football Championships on Sunday, each taking a different route into the national second-tier competition.

Mile Gully of Manchester overturned a one-goal deficit to defeat Cross United 2-1 in the Group C title match at the Mile Gully Community Centre. Cooper's Pen of Trelawny claimed Group D when opponents Russia did not appear, earning the points by forfeit.

Those outcomes complete a quartet of qualifiers. York from St Thomas and King Football Academy of St Ann had already secured their spots during the previous week.

Veron Peterkin, who coaches King Football Academy, spoke to the Jamaica Observer last week about reaching the championship stage. He said the club was about a year behind its own timetable but welcomed entry into the country's second division.

"Playing in this competition is very necessary as we are hoping soon to be playing in the Premier League," Peterkin said. "This is a massive step for us."

He recalled that qualification had slipped away last term. "We had some hiccups last season, we thought we would have qualified then, but we are there now and that is what is important. We knew that we could not miss this year," Peterkin said.

Mile Gully entered Sunday's decider knowing a draw would be enough to top the group. Cross United struck first through Avantae Goulbourn in the 38th minute. Mile Gully drew level when an own goal in the 72nd minute levelled the score, and Demarco McLean found the net in stoppage time to complete the comeback.

Cooper's Pen's path was settled without kick-off. Russia, who had shipped 19 goals across their prior two fixtures, again failed to field a team. The walkover handed Cooper's Pen the group and left Faulkland United's 3-0 victory over Lucea at Jarrett Park with no bearing on promotion.

Sunday's results:
Cedar Grove Estate 2, Brown's Town FC 4
Mile Gully FC 2, Cross United 1
Faulkland United 3, Lucea FC 0
Cooper's Pen 0, Russia 3 (forfeit)