Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

AFTER THE first 11 set of games in the 2006-2007 National Premier League, the standings looked pretty familiar with Waterhouse and Harbour View, champions and runners-up, respectively, from the previous season, dominating the top two spots and booking a date in the first end-of-round final.

Last season, the only surprise side in the top six at the end of the first round was Reno as struggling western confederation sides, Wadadah and Seba United, along with promoted teams August Town and Naggo Head, took up expected positions at the foot of the standings.

Fast-forward to 2007-2008 and on the final match day of the first round, ninth-place Reno were among nine teams with chances, however slim, of reaching the first end-of-round final.

Portmore United started the second round on 24 points Wednesday, six ahead of Tivoli, who they had beaten in last Sunday's first end-of-round final.

However, third to 10th place teams remained packed as tight as sardines with three points separating them.

No surprise

Coaches Linval Dixon of Portmore United and St. Georges' Donovan Duckie said they were not surprised when the battle for the second spot in the end-of-round final had nine teams in with chances of advancing to face Portmore United.

"I am not at all surprised with what has been happening," said Dixon, a former Reggae Boy defender.

"We watched the promoted teams, St. Georges and Sporting Central, in the Premier League qualifiers and they were playing good football," he pointed out.

"We knew they would have been tough in the Premier League. No team is a walkover now. It's not like before when two teams would come up and immediately go back down," he added.

The promoted teams, along with early leaders Seba United, have turned the league on its head this season, to the extent where St. Georges ended the first round losing just one match at home, beating the likes of Village, Boys' Town, Arnett Gardens and Sporting Central at Lynch Park.

Seba, who ended last season in 10th place, skilfully avoiding relegation, showed vast improvement to lead the league for the first eight games and finished the round in third, despite losing their last three matches.

The men from Montego Bay only needed a win against Sporting Central to seal their spot in the end-of-round final against Portmore but were cut down 2-1 by the Premier League debutants.

Meanwhile, Sporting Central continue to hold their own as the form of the promoted sides and western teams forced August Town and Village, sides which ended the league sixth and seventh, respectively, last season, into the relegation zone.

Performed well

Similar to Dixon, Duckie said he knew all along that his side and fellow promoted team, Sporting Central, would have performed well in the top flight.

"Based on the matchup of the teams. I believe we have 12 good sides from which any can win on any given day," Duckie said.

"I've not seen any team looking way better than the others but I believe by the third round, you'll see some teams stepping away.

"A lot of things will be factored in such as teams with more depth, those which are able to replace quality players with quality players, they will stand out in the third round," he said. Dixon believes things will get even tighter in the second round, which kicked off on Wednesday with his side facing Sporting Central at Brancourt

"There is no such thing as an easy game anymore," he said. "Every game will be tough and the second round will be much tougher than the first," Dixon warned.

The former Reggae Boyz defender agreed that under the new format, which bars teams finishing below sixth at the end of the third round from competing for the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) title, it would be heart-rending if a side fell one or two points short of the mark.

"It's good to see everything so close but it would seem a bit unfair for a team to be that near (and miss out)," Dixon said.

"What can I say? The system changed and it would just be unfortunate. We have to accept what is there," Dixon said.

"It could be unfair for that team but the clubs are working hard to be in the top six. Everybody can't be in the top six and that's why it's so competitive," he added.