Fight for promotion intensifies
published: Sunday | June 6, 2004

Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer

THE QUALIFIERS for next season's Wray and Nephew National Premier League hinge on the outcome of today's play-off games at 3:30 p.m.

Second-placed Wadadah will battle against leaders Arlington at Jarrett Park in a top-of-the-table clash while struggling Santos go in search of their first win when they tackle St. Georges at Bell-Chung Stadium.

Arlington are on eight point from four games with two victories and two draws and a win against Wadadah would guarantee them a place in the NPL. However, defeat at the hands of Wadadah could derail the St. Catherine side.

Wadadah are on a roll having won their past two games. If they are able to turn the tables on Arlington who beat them 4-0 at Prison Oval, they will jump into the lead with 10 points.

ALSO IN WITH A CHANCE

Meanwhile, although the faint-hearted would not bet on it, St. Georges or Santos are also in with a chance of reaching the Premier League. However, it is easier for the Portland side which has four points (one win and a draw), two more than cellar dwellers Santos, to go forward.

From here on in, St. Georges can amass ten points which could see them being the second consecutive Eastern Confed side, behind Star Cosmos, to qualify for the Premier League. However, in order to get to ten points they will have to beat Santos at Bell-Chung today and then get past Arlington at Prison Oval on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, as remote as it may seem, Santos can reach the Premier League. Although they are on two points, three points against St. Georges today and a win in MoBay over Wadadah would give the KSAFA side eight points which could see them take second spot.

FULL POINTS

In today's encounters, Arlington and St. Georges have the advantage, having taken full points from their opponents when they last met. Arlington beat a hapless looking Wadadah 4-0 at Prison Oval while Santos went down 2-1 to St. Georges at Lynch Park in Portland.

Setting aside Wadadah's home advantage, Arlington, with the hard-running Roger Aspenal in midfield, should cause problems for the St. James bunch. However, they should be mindful that even though they have only conceded one goal in five games, Wadadah are goal hungry. The two-time NPL champs have scored five goals in two matches.

On the contrary, Santos have been having problems scoring and this could spell problems for them in their encounter against St. Georges. They have only three goals to show from their four games, two of which came from the boot of Richard West. But they have to win today in order to prevent the Premier League from eluding them for a third consecutive season.

TODAY'S GAMES