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Top teams seek crucial wins in NPL play-offs
By Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Sunday, June 03, 2007
With three teams locked on seven points and two matches remaining in the National Premier League (NPL) play-offs, this afternoon's matches are crucial in the bid to qualify for the country's top football competition.
Granville FC travel to Lynch Park to face St George's United, while Police Nationals entertain Sporting Central at Edward Seaga Sport Complex. Both matches start at 3:30.
Granville lead the standings with a goal-difference of +3, followed by Sporting with a +2 and St George's, a +1. Police trail in the four-team contest with one point and a -5 goal-difference.
Victory for any of the top three teams this afternoon could cement their place in the premiership for next season, pending the result of the other game.
The feature match is at Lynch Park, where Montego Bay's Granville try to avenge their first-round defeat against the Portlanders. Granville also failed to take full points against Police in a home fixture last Wednesday, and with no home matches remaining, could be severely tested.
St George's coach Donovan Duckie says that at this stage, he expects Granville to be seeking maximum points. However, he has the same objective in mind.
"We're definitely going for three points because we can qualify tomorrow (today). We're very focused and hope to execute properly," he said.
"Granville will also be gunning for three points... so they're going to come at us... but we're at home and that's where we're most confident, so we're just going to... play hard and win the game and qualify," Duckie added.
Duckie said that despite last Wednesday's defeat against Sporting Central, the team has put it behind them and is looking forward to their next assignment.
The Eastern Confederation champions will, however, be without two of their regular starters who were ejected in their last outing.
"It will affect us because we've lose two starters and Harwood is recovering from a slight injury from the last game. But we have able replacements and the team can deliver irrespective of who is playing on the day," he declared.
Meanwhile, South Central kingpins Sporting Central will be seeking to consolidate their top-two position as well. A win for the Clarendon side would see it needing only a draw from its final match against Granville to qualify.
Coach Kevin Williams believes his team has its work cut out against KSAFA winners Police Nationals.
"They're a KSAFA team and you can't write off a KSAFA team... They have been unlucky on the part of their finishing, but they play good football... so it's going to be difficult," he conceded.
Granville lead the standings with a goal-difference of +3, followed by Sporting with a +2 and St George's a +1. Police trail in the four-team contest with one point and a -5 goal-difference.
Victory for any of the top three teams this afternoon could cement their place in the premiership for next season, pending the result of the other game.
The feature match is at Lynch Park, where Montego Bay's Granville will try to avenge their first-round defeat against the Portlanders. Granville also failed to take full points against Police in a home fixture last Wednesday, and with no home matches remaining, could be severely tested.
St George's coach Donovan Duckie says that at this stage, he expects Granville to be seeking maximum points. However, he has the same objective in mind.
"We're definitely going for three points because we can qualify tomorrow (today). We're very focused and hope to execute properly," he said.
"Granville will also be gunning for three points... so they're going to come at us... but we're at home and that's where we're most confident, so we're just going to... play hard and win the game and qualify," Duckie added.
Duckie said that despite last Wednesday's defeat against Sporting Central, the team has put it behind them and is looking forward to their next assignment.
The Eastern Confederation champions will however be without two of their regular starters who were ejected in their last outing.
"It will affect us because we've lost two starters and Harwood is recovering from a slight injury from the last game. But we have able replacements and the team can deliver irrespective of who is playing on the day," he declared.
Meanwhile, South Central kingpins Sporting Central will be seeking to consolidate their top-two position as well. A win for the Clarendon side would see it needing only a draw from its final match against Granville to qualify.
Coach Kevin Williams believes his team has its work cut out against KSAFA winners Police Nationals.
"They're a KSAFA team and you can't write off a KSAFA team... They have been unlucky on the part of their finishing, but they play good football... so it's going to be difficult," he conceded.
Police, who still have a mathematical chance of going through, will be hunting a win while keeping their fingers crossed that the other result goes their way.
If St George's lose and Police win, the Lawmen would be on four points - three less than the former and Sporting Central. If Police can upset the odds at Lynch Park, and if Granville beat Sporting next Wednesday, the KSAFA champs would see a light at the end of the tunnel, if they beat St George's in their final game.
"After taking our first point, the confidence of the players has risen, so we're looking for three points and to score some goals," Police coach Calvin Lewis said.
Top teams seek crucial wins in NPL play-offs
By Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Sunday, June 03, 2007
With three teams locked on seven points and two matches remaining in the National Premier League (NPL) play-offs, this afternoon's matches are crucial in the bid to qualify for the country's top football competition.
Granville FC travel to Lynch Park to face St George's United, while Police Nationals entertain Sporting Central at Edward Seaga Sport Complex. Both matches start at 3:30.
Granville lead the standings with a goal-difference of +3, followed by Sporting with a +2 and St George's, a +1. Police trail in the four-team contest with one point and a -5 goal-difference.
Victory for any of the top three teams this afternoon could cement their place in the premiership for next season, pending the result of the other game.
The feature match is at Lynch Park, where Montego Bay's Granville try to avenge their first-round defeat against the Portlanders. Granville also failed to take full points against Police in a home fixture last Wednesday, and with no home matches remaining, could be severely tested.
St George's coach Donovan Duckie says that at this stage, he expects Granville to be seeking maximum points. However, he has the same objective in mind.
"We're definitely going for three points because we can qualify tomorrow (today). We're very focused and hope to execute properly," he said.
"Granville will also be gunning for three points... so they're going to come at us... but we're at home and that's where we're most confident, so we're just going to... play hard and win the game and qualify," Duckie added.
Duckie said that despite last Wednesday's defeat against Sporting Central, the team has put it behind them and is looking forward to their next assignment.
The Eastern Confederation champions will, however, be without two of their regular starters who were ejected in their last outing.
"It will affect us because we've lose two starters and Harwood is recovering from a slight injury from the last game. But we have able replacements and the team can deliver irrespective of who is playing on the day," he declared.
Meanwhile, South Central kingpins Sporting Central will be seeking to consolidate their top-two position as well. A win for the Clarendon side would see it needing only a draw from its final match against Granville to qualify.
Coach Kevin Williams believes his team has its work cut out against KSAFA winners Police Nationals.
"They're a KSAFA team and you can't write off a KSAFA team... They have been unlucky on the part of their finishing, but they play good football... so it's going to be difficult," he conceded.
Granville lead the standings with a goal-difference of +3, followed by Sporting with a +2 and St George's a +1. Police trail in the four-team contest with one point and a -5 goal-difference.
Victory for any of the top three teams this afternoon could cement their place in the premiership for next season, pending the result of the other game.
The feature match is at Lynch Park, where Montego Bay's Granville will try to avenge their first-round defeat against the Portlanders. Granville also failed to take full points against Police in a home fixture last Wednesday, and with no home matches remaining, could be severely tested.
St George's coach Donovan Duckie says that at this stage, he expects Granville to be seeking maximum points. However, he has the same objective in mind.
"We're definitely going for three points because we can qualify tomorrow (today). We're very focused and hope to execute properly," he said.
"Granville will also be gunning for three points... so they're going to come at us... but we're at home and that's where we're most confident, so we're just going to... play hard and win the game and qualify," Duckie added.
Duckie said that despite last Wednesday's defeat against Sporting Central, the team has put it behind them and is looking forward to their next assignment.
The Eastern Confederation champions will however be without two of their regular starters who were ejected in their last outing.
"It will affect us because we've lost two starters and Harwood is recovering from a slight injury from the last game. But we have able replacements and the team can deliver irrespective of who is playing on the day," he declared.
Meanwhile, South Central kingpins Sporting Central will be seeking to consolidate their top-two position as well. A win for the Clarendon side would see it needing only a draw from its final match against Granville to qualify.
Coach Kevin Williams believes his team has its work cut out against KSAFA winners Police Nationals.
"They're a KSAFA team and you can't write off a KSAFA team... They have been unlucky on the part of their finishing, but they play good football... so it's going to be difficult," he conceded.
Police, who still have a mathematical chance of going through, will be hunting a win while keeping their fingers crossed that the other result goes their way.
If St George's lose and Police win, the Lawmen would be on four points - three less than the former and Sporting Central. If Police can upset the odds at Lynch Park, and if Granville beat Sporting next Wednesday, the KSAFA champs would see a light at the end of the tunnel, if they beat St George's in their final game.
"After taking our first point, the confidence of the players has risen, so we're looking for three points and to score some goals," Police coach Calvin Lewis said.
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