The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Celebration time? ❒ Portmore merely running down the clock

Ainsley Walters, Star Racing Writer

Portmore United's Tyrone Sawyers (left) and his teammate Anthony Modeste (right) getting the better of Harbour View's Kavin Bryan during Sunday evening's National Premier League match at Ferdie Neita Park. The game ended 1-1. - ricardo makyn

PORTMORE United are merely running down the clock, waiting on Tivoli Gardens to lose or draw another match, to be officially crowned Premier League champions.

There is absolutely nothing, barring an unfinished league, which could deny Portmore the championship with them out front on 68 points, leading Tivoli by nine.

Even if the leaders lose their last three games, including tomorrow's home match against Waterhouse, Tivoli would have had to erase a deficit of 21 goals in three games to join Portmore on goal difference.

So much for the Premiership race, Portmore are all but champions.

Tivoli face fourth-place Harbour View at home, playing to maintain second spot ahead of Boys' Town (53), who are six points adrift in third.

Harbour View are fourth on 49 points, hoping to climb to third for a bigger slice of the prize money.

Slick leaders

Meanwhile, fifth-place Waterhouse on 47 points are aiming at Harbour View's spot but must first get past Portmore at Ferdie Neita Park.

The slick leaders refuse to lose and are favourites to beat Waterhouse, which could put the men from Drewsland in a battle for fifth spot, with Sporting Central (43), who will play Boys' Town at Brancourt with every chance of notching a win at home.

However, it's in the lower half of the table where the action should intensify with five points separating four sides from ninth to 12th place.

Last-place August Town went down to their second straight loss on Sunday, edged 1-0 by Reno with whom they were level on 34 points.

August Town are on the road tomorrow, playing 10th-place St. Georges, who fell to their second straight loss under new coach Geoffrey Maxwell, nipped 1-0 by an 88th minute penalty at Arnett Gardens on Sunday.

At their best

St Georges are at their best when playing at Lynch Park where they beat August Town 2-1 in the third round and could kill the Kingstonians' hopes of playing in the Premiership next season if they maintain that form.

Sitting last on 34 points with three games to go, a loss to St. Georges would spell doom for August Town, giving them a slim mathematical chance of avoiding relegation in their two remaining games, depending on other results.

However, a victory at Lynch Park would give August Town all to play for especially if Reno and Arnett Gardens, 37 and 39 points respectively, are beaten tomorrow by higher-placed teams, Seba (41) and Village (45), the only safe side in the bottom-six.

August Town's fate could very well rest in their hands as Arnett had to depend on a very late penalty to edge St. Georges at home on Sunday and should have their hands full against high-flying Village at the Elliston Wakeland Centre.

Reno are at home to Seba but the visitors are four points ahead on 41 and will be going all out to join Village in the safe zone as victory at St. Elizabeth Technical would move them to 44, out of reach of the bottom-place teams.

Therefore, the outcome of the Lynch Park clash, St. Georges against August Town, will have a big say in who stays in the Premiership.

Championship Teams

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Portmore 35 19 11 5 50 23 27 68
Tivoli 35 18 5 12 43 37 6 59
Boys' Town 35 13 14 8 32 28 4 53
Harbour View 35 11 16 8 41 34 7 49
Waterhouse 35 10 17 8 39 38 1 47
Sporting Central 35 10 13 12 39 46 -7 43

Relegation Group

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Village United 35 11 12 12 36 34 0 45
Seba United 35 10 11 14 42 47 -5 41
Arnett Gardens 35 7 18 10 31 32 -1 39
St. Georges 35 10 9 16 37 41 -4 39
Reno FC 35 7 16 12 36 48 -12 37
August Town 35 8 10 17 34 52 -18 34

Tomorrow's games

Sporting Central vs Boys' Town at 3:30 p.m.

Village United vs Arnett Gardens at 3:30 p.m.

Reno vs Seba United at 3:30 p.m.

St Georges vs August Town at 3:30 p.m.

Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View at 5:00 p.m.

Portmore United vs Waterhouse at 7:00 p.m.