Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
THE FINAL and decisive set of games in the National Premier League (NPL) playoffs take place today with Santos of KSAFA journeying to Trelawny to play Invaders at Elletson Wakeland Centre and St. Mary's Star Cosmos hosting Los Perfectos at Clembhards Park. Both games begin at 3:30 p.m.
The St. Mary assignment promises to be an historic event. Even if they are beaten by a struggling Los Perfectos and Invaders avoid defeat, Star Cosmos will become the first side from that parish to play football at the highest level in the country.
Star Cosmos lead the standings with nine points, one more than Santos and Invaders. Los Perfectos, with two points, are out of contention.
For the Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis side to advance to the NPL it will have to beat Invaders. Though they are joint second, Santos have a huge task facing them playing in the Elletson Wakeland Centre. The Trelawny side held Santos to a 1-1 draw at Bell/Chung Stadium in their first meeting.
Donovan Duckie, coach of Star Cosmos, said: "We are not in the celebration thing yet. Right now, it is our job to ensure that we qualify.
"We will be approaching the game just as seriously as we have approached the others," he said.
STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION
The Star Cosmos team is a picture of strength and determination. It lost its first two NPL qualifying games (1-0 to Invaders at Elletson Wakeland and 2-1 to Santos at home) before rebounding to beat Los Perfectos 1-0 in Manchester, downing Invaders 2-1 in St. Mary and then clipping of Santos 1-0 in Kingston.
As for the Trelawny side, it needs only to avoid defeat at home to walk into the same arena as fellow parishioners, Village United.
With a plus-three goal difference compared with Santos's plus two, a draw for both teams wouldguarantee Star Cosmos a place in the Premier League and at the same time take the Paul 'Tegat' Davis-coached team back to a level where he was once indomitable as a player.
Dennis has not ruled out Santos reaching the top level.
In fact, he is adamant that Los Perfectos won't be going to St. Mary for a holiday.
"Los Perfectos are playing for pride, they won't be easily beaten," he said after Wednesday's lost to Star Cosmos.
Meanwhile, Dennis said his team had no option but to win in Trelawny if it was to be one of the teams taking over from the relegated Bull Bay and Wadadah next season.
