Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

IT COULD well become a do-or-die situation for joint leaders Granville, Sporting Central and St. George's as a negative result for any of them in this afternoon's crucial penultimate round of matches in the Wray & Nephew NPL play-offs could wreck their qualification chances.

In the games slate to start at 3:30 p.m., Eastern champions, St. George's, will entertain Western champions, Granville, at Lynch Park in Portland, while Central champions, Sporting Central, will play away to Kingston and St. Andrew champions, Police National, at the Edward Seaga Stadium in West Kingston.

In the last round of matches, Sporting Central blanked St. George's 2-0, while Granville were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Police National, which left Granville, Sporting Central and St. Georges all locked on seven points and Police National out of contention on one point.

"We have no choice but to go to Portland and beat St. George's," said Tracey Reid, coach of the Granville team, who is seeking to create history by becoming the first female coach to qualify a team for the NPL. "Our backs are against the wall and this is the time that you generally get the best out of Granville."

Despite Sunday's loss to Sporting Central, the Donavan Duckie-coached St. George's, which defeated Granville 1-0 in their first round match-up in Montego Bay, cannot be slighted in the least as they have been invincible at home so far. In fact, indications are that they have developed complete mastery over their home turf.

"Our objective all season has been to win at home and try to get at least a point on the road," Duckie told The Sunday Gleaner. "Wnning at home is absolutely important if we are to qualify."

In its bid for victory in Portland, Granville will be hoping that the likes of goalkeeper Loxley Reid, midfielders Jason Rose and Deshaun Wollery and top striker Jermaine Anderson report in top form.

However, St. George's could prove to be awesome, especially if prolific striker Damion Harwood reports in top form.

Despite Police National's brave showing against Granville on Wednesday, it is difficult to envisage them getting by a Sporting Central team which brushed them aside 2-0 in their first-round clash.

"Although we are out of contention, we will still be playing our next two games as if we still have a chance to quality," Police National's manager, Beau Rigabie, said after the 1-1 draw with Granville. "We still want to show that we are a good team that could have gone further if we were scoring our chances."

In their quest to repeat their first-round win against Police National, Sporting Central will be hoping that the likes of Cornel Learmond and Onieke Ford, who have been getting the goals for the team, turn up ready to perform.

At the conclusion of the four-team tournament, the top two teams on points will advance to the 2007-08 Wray & Nephew NPL competition as replacements for Wadadah and Naggo Head, who were relegated at the end of the last season.