By Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterARLINGTON of St. Catherine and St. James' Wadadah yesterday stayed on course for qualification to the 2004-2005 Wray and Nephew National Premier League after favourable results in their respective play-off games.
Leaders and South-Central Confederation winners Arlington played out a 0-0 draw with Santos at the St. Catherine Prison Oval whereas Wadadah registered their second consecutive win in the play-offs, a 3-0 demolition of home side St. George's at Lynch Park, Portland.
OPENED THE SCORING
Andre Reid opened the scoring for former two-time NPL champions Wadadah in the 23rd minute before Raphael Palmer made it 2-0 in the 57th. Markino Gillings netted 14 minutes from time, getting on the score sheet for the second time in as many games.
At Prison Oval, Arlington maintained their unbeaten run in the play-offs. A win for either was important. Arlington would have virtually secured spot in the new NPL season whereas Santos' hopes of coming out of the woods would have been greatly enhanced.
However, neither team got what they wanted. Poor shooting by strikers and excellent goalkeeping by Santos' custodian Andrew Sewell resulted in the goal-less scoreline.
Kemar Munroe got probably the best chance of the game to score in the 60th minute. The Arlington striker, facing an empty net, hit agonisingly wide when Sewell found himself in no-man's land after effecting a save.
For Santos, Phillip Riley got a clear cut chance in the 67th minute but flunked it, heading high from point blank range. Ten minutes later, Herbert Allen made a mess of a Kevon Harris free kick. Positioned at the back post, he inexplicably failed to get off a shot, allowing the ball to roll off his boots into the path of the goalkeeper.
Yesterday's results moved Arlington inches to eight points from four games whereas Wadadah jumped to seven points. Santos remain last with two points, two behind St. George's who are on four.
Santos' coach Carlton Spanner Dennis has already given up on his teams chances of making it to the Premier League.
"It is all over," a disappointed Dennis said after his team's draw.
However, mathematically, the KSAFA champions are still in with a chance of making it to the Premier League. Although they are at the bottom of the table, should Santos win their next two games, starting with St. George's at Bell-Chung on Sunday, and Wadadah fail to get at least a point from their remaining encounters, Santos could advance with eight points.
