western bureau:

The 2009 St James Football Association (StJFA) Captain's Bakery & Grill Knockout football competition which started on Monday will slide into top gear today at Jarrett Park with the big Granville derby between Granville United and Granville City, starting at 4 p.m.

While the game will yield a qualifier for the competition's inter-zone round, for the two teams bragging rights seem more important as Granville City, which feature a number of discards from Granville United, are expected to come seeking to prove a point.

"It should be a very exciting game because we definitely will not allow them to beat us," said Granville's captain Garth Johnson. "We are a Western Super Cup team while they are a level below playing in the St James Senior League."

The competition, which is being contested by 16, started on Monday with Salt Spring United defeating community neighbours Salt Spring Roses 3-1, which made them the first qualifier for the competition's quarter-final round.

In a game they dominated, Salt Spring United scored through Green Pond High School star striker Covanti Reid (2) and veteran player/coach Omar Clarke. Salt Spring Roses' consolation came courtesy of a defender's goal.

On Tuesday, Catherine Hall bowed into action in fine style at the UDC playing field, blunting a strong challenge from Gully Ambassadors to win 3-2 and move into the next phase of the competition. Michael Stewart (2) and Joel Hayles were the scorers for Catherine Hall, while Everton Lewis and Carnel Pennicott were on target for Gully Ambassadors.

The competition, which is sponsored to the tune of $500,000 by The Captain's Bakery and Grill, will yield one qualifier for Flow All-Island Knock Out championship, which will feature all the various parish champions alongside the 12 Digicel Premier League teams.

Prior to Monday's official start of the competition, Mount Salem played Violet Kickers in a special knockout game to decide which of them would make it into the main draw of 16 teams. Mount Salem won 1-0 courtesy of a Kino Williams strike.