By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter 
Daley, Wilson and Nelson
HAD THE Wray and Nephew National Premier League been a true 'league', Hazard United would have had this season's trophy already.
Seeing that is not the case they have two matches to get it and the road to that NPL championship passes through the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, home of defending champions Arnett Gardens who are going for their third title in a row.
The first leg of the final, which is a repeat from last year, gets going at 6:30 p.m.
Before that a no less competitive a quality match should be witnessed at 4:00 p.m. between the Under-21s of Tivoli Gardens and Hazard United.
Whatever the outcome of the second match, the dream of either Hazard United's Lenworth Hyde or Arnett Gardens' Jerome Waite will be dashed. Waite's dream is to do the historic 'three-peat' while Hyde wants to take the Under-21 and NPL double. One dream must be dashed.
Both teams made their way to the finals in different styles. Arnett Gardens, with the strength of three goals from Walter Boyd and a number of assists, beat Harbour View 5-1 on aggregate while Hazard came up against more resistance from Village United winning 6-4 on aggregate.
"It means everything to us. It was one of our objectives to get to the final," Hyde said of today's NPL game against Arnett Gardens. "We went there last year and it is great to be back there again," continued Hyde, who credited hard work and dedication for their success.
Having perhaps the deepest team in the country with the number of national representatives at the senior and age group levels, Hazard were expected to win last year but fell at the final hurdle to the leadership of Arnett's captain Eugene Barnes and the finishing of Boyd who turned home the winner to give his team a 2-1 win (3-2 on aggregate).
Despite all the qualities of Hazard United, Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite said his team will not be denied its moment in history.
"It will be another competitive final. What you have are two of the better teams in the NPL clashing once more. "Both teams have a lot of offensive, defensive qualities, good goalkeepers and good midfield minds so it will be a true contest but despite the competition it will be all about the three-peat. It does not matter what comes our way at this point in time ... the 'threepeat' is the only thing on our minds and we will not be denied," he said.
Things are falling into place for this feat according to Waite. The team is peaking at the right time. Like Hazard United who will be missing defender Derrick Smith for the final due to suspension, Arnett Gardens will be without the tough Gerald Neil.
Even with that, Waite said his team would come out on top. The game, he said, would be won in midfield and he had the players for that. Cornel Chin-Sue and Jonathan Williams have shown their pedigree for club and country while Fabian Davis and football observers would be wondering what he has done to be ignored, he said.
On show in the Under-21 clash will be Christopher Nicholas, Roland Dean, Lenworth Hyde and Rafiek Thomas for Tivoli Gardens while Hazard should look to Kemeel and Rafe Wolfe, Kieron Berbard, Carlington Smith and Anthony Bennett.
