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Sporting vs Granville in NPL play-off feature
BY Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Today's schedule:
3:30 pm - Police vs St George's at Edward Seaga Sports Complex (Referee: Dwight Royal); Granville vs Sporting Central Academy at Sam Sharpe Mini Grounds (Referee: Raymond Pine).
Sporting Central travel to Sam Sharpe field to face Granville and Police Nationals host St George's at Edward Seaga Sport Complex in the final first-round game of the four-team National Premier League play-offs this afternoon at 3:30.
Donovan Davis (right) of St George's United holds off Granville defender Wilbert Pennicooke during a premiership play-off game at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay last Wednesday. St George's won 1-0. (Photo: Paul Reid)
Both Sporting Central and St George's have four points, but the former lead the standings on goal difference. Granville have three points, with Police still pointless after two matches.
Granville versus Sporting is no doubt the feature match this afternoon, as both scored contrasting results on Wednesday to throw the race wide open.
Former leaders Granville slipped to third after their shock defeat, while Sporting won, and according to coach Kevin Williams, another tough encounter is anticipated.
"Granville is renowned as a strong team... so we won't expect anything different. We're expecting a strong Granville team at home showcasing what they have," he said.
"One thing with Chris Dawes (assistant coach) and I, we always expect a positive result when we play, so Sunday (today) will be no different."
Williams said once Granville have a good field, they will be able to show their capabilities.
"When we went to St George's the pitch was already an opponent and usually the type of football we play is not conducive to bad pitches.
"I don't know much about the Granville field, but if it's as good as Brancourt, or even half as good, we should display quality football," he said.
His counterpart Stacy Reid said Wednesday's defeat to St George's has reignited his team and they're even more motivated now.
"It really had a big effect, because afterwards we had a team meeting and I could see that they were really upset. It has really woken them up and they're stronger mentally," she said.
"On Thursday in training you could see the passion in their eyes; they're raring and ready to go because they know that their back is against the wall...," Reid added.
Police, who are yet to score a goal, make another attempt against joint leaders St George's. But despite their good fortune so far, St George's coach Donovan Duckie believes this game could be their most challenging to date.
"I've been in this for a few years now, so I understand how these things goes. Everywhere you play is your yard, no matter where. Every team that qualified from the play-offs to the Premier League went on the road and took two (wins). But this is going to be the hardest game for us," Duckie stressed.
Meanwhile, it could be a revamped Police team that takes the field this afternoon. Having failed to produce the goods so far, coach Calvert Lewis is weighing his options.
"There will be a change to the whole approach because we're not getting any goals from what we're doing. We're creating the chances, but we're not scoring and defensively we're giving up some soft goals, so we'll make some changes to the starting line-up and see if we can beat that jinx...," Lewis told the Sunday Observer.
According to Lewis, St George's will be confident on account of their earlier exploits; however, he warned that they'll have to be at their best this afternoon.
"... They are thinking that you can get three points. But it will not come easy, they will have to work hard for those three points," he declared.
BY Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Today's schedule:
3:30 pm - Police vs St George's at Edward Seaga Sports Complex (Referee: Dwight Royal); Granville vs Sporting Central Academy at Sam Sharpe Mini Grounds (Referee: Raymond Pine).
Sporting Central travel to Sam Sharpe field to face Granville and Police Nationals host St George's at Edward Seaga Sport Complex in the final first-round game of the four-team National Premier League play-offs this afternoon at 3:30.
Donovan Davis (right) of St George's United holds off Granville defender Wilbert Pennicooke during a premiership play-off game at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay last Wednesday. St George's won 1-0. (Photo: Paul Reid) Both Sporting Central and St George's have four points, but the former lead the standings on goal difference. Granville have three points, with Police still pointless after two matches.
Granville versus Sporting is no doubt the feature match this afternoon, as both scored contrasting results on Wednesday to throw the race wide open.
Former leaders Granville slipped to third after their shock defeat, while Sporting won, and according to coach Kevin Williams, another tough encounter is anticipated.
"Granville is renowned as a strong team... so we won't expect anything different. We're expecting a strong Granville team at home showcasing what they have," he said.
"One thing with Chris Dawes (assistant coach) and I, we always expect a positive result when we play, so Sunday (today) will be no different."
Williams said once Granville have a good field, they will be able to show their capabilities.
"When we went to St George's the pitch was already an opponent and usually the type of football we play is not conducive to bad pitches.
"I don't know much about the Granville field, but if it's as good as Brancourt, or even half as good, we should display quality football," he said.
His counterpart Stacy Reid said Wednesday's defeat to St George's has reignited his team and they're even more motivated now.
"It really had a big effect, because afterwards we had a team meeting and I could see that they were really upset. It has really woken them up and they're stronger mentally," she said.
"On Thursday in training you could see the passion in their eyes; they're raring and ready to go because they know that their back is against the wall...," Reid added.
Police, who are yet to score a goal, make another attempt against joint leaders St George's. But despite their good fortune so far, St George's coach Donovan Duckie believes this game could be their most challenging to date.
"I've been in this for a few years now, so I understand how these things goes. Everywhere you play is your yard, no matter where. Every team that qualified from the play-offs to the Premier League went on the road and took two (wins). But this is going to be the hardest game for us," Duckie stressed.
Meanwhile, it could be a revamped Police team that takes the field this afternoon. Having failed to produce the goods so far, coach Calvert Lewis is weighing his options.
"There will be a change to the whole approach because we're not getting any goals from what we're doing. We're creating the chances, but we're not scoring and defensively we're giving up some soft goals, so we'll make some changes to the starting line-up and see if we can beat that jinx...," Lewis told the Sunday Observer.
According to Lewis, St George's will be confident on account of their earlier exploits; however, he warned that they'll have to be at their best this afternoon.
"... They are thinking that you can get three points. But it will not come easy, they will have to work hard for those three points," he declared.