Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

EVEN WITH leaders Portmore United poised for inevitable celebrations, five teams - Seba, Arnett, Reno, St Georges and August Town - continue a desperate bid to claw their way away from relegation when the National Premier League (NPL) continues today.

Nine points clear of their nearest opponents, Tivoli Gardens, with just three games remaining, Portmore have all but wrapped up the title and simply need to avoid losing to Waterhouse at home tonight to officially begin their celebrations.

Bottom of the table

However, at the bottom of the table, the battle is still very much on with seven points separating the teams in positions eight through 12. Following two straight wins to start the crucial final round, Village have already assured their safety, but should still pose a stern challenge for a visiting Arnett Gardens who are currently ninth on 39 points.

"It will be one of our toughest games in this round. We know it is not going to be easy. Village are playing very good football and they are at home," said Arnett coach Jerome Waite.

"However, our objective will simply be not to go there and lose and if we can get a point from the fixture it will be good enough for us," he said.

Village are currently seventh with 45 points, ahead of Sporting who are sixth on 43 points, but having finished in the bottom half of the league they cannot move above the Clarendon team.

Performance

Having put together a commendable performance since their return to the Premier League, St Georges must now quickly get their act together if they are to make it an extended trip. The Portland team parted ways with long-time coach Donovan Duckie after narrowly missing out on a spot in the league's top six and has struggled to find its footing under new coach Geoffrey Maxwell as it has lost its first two games of the crucial final round.

Today, St Georges hope to make use of their home ground Lynch Park, a place which has seen them lose only four times this season, when they take on bottom-place August Town.

Although at the bottom of the table on 34 points, August Town are not dead yet and must eye the encounter as a must-win.

"We really can't afford to lose the game today. We didn't play very well in our first game, but I think we have picked it up since then and we were just unlucky in our last game," said August Town assistant coach Dwight Morgan. The side will be boosted by the return of Daniel Shaw and captain Aphas Bernard.

"We know they are a hard team to beat at home, but we are going for all three points today," Morgan said.

Favourites to join Village in the safety zone, Seba, already eighth on 41 points, will be eager to do so today when they travel to STETHS to face Reno. However, in a tough situation, second from the bottom on 37 points, the Westmoreland team will certainly be desperate for a valuable three points.

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