Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
August Town's Nicholas Smith (second left) tries to elude Omar Davis (second right) of St. Georges during their Premier League play-off game at the UWI playing field, yesterday. Looking on are St Georges' Delroy Boyd (left) and Ross Burton of August Town. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
AUGUST TOWN went atop the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) National Premier League (NPL) play-offs with a 1-0 win over St. Georges yesterday at the UWI field.
A 68th-minute strike from Eltham High schoolboy, Tremaine Stewart, propelled August Town to six points from three games and into pole position.
Former leaders, Negril FC, went down 2-0 to Naggo Head at home to slump to third position on four points, the same as their St. Catherine conquerors.
St. Georges bring up the rear on two points after the end of the first set of games.
August Town, utilising their home advantage, secured their second consecutive victory after Nicholas Smith's mazy run set up Stewart with an easy task.
TEAM WORKED HARD
Christopher Bender, coach of August Town, said his team had to work hard to break down a stubborn St. Georges who kept their players behind the ball.
"Always when you play at home you expect to get three points and if the team comes and plays with numbers behind the ball it makes it difficult for us to penetrate, but we made a few changes and it paid off," said Bender.
With the three games remaining and a two-point lead, Bender is optimistic of qualifying for the NPL.
"We are quietly confident in our ability; once we can do the job at home and take a point away," he noted.
Things are not looking so rosy for the Portland-based St. Georges.
Donovan Duckie, coach of the team, said things were not looking too favourable.
"It's not good. We gave up a soft goal the last game at home and dropped two points and we came today needing to avoid August Town from running away and avoid defeat," Duckie said. "We gave up a soft goal again and lost the game".
"There were some questionable refereeing decision with a penalty that could have gone our way. But we will just have to bounce back," he said.
