Portmore, Seba inkey clash
published:
Thursday | December 6, 2007
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
THE BATTLE for places in the first end-of-round final of the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) will continue today with two rescheduled matches and the organisers and supporters of the current format could hardly have asked for a tighter race.
In with a chance of getting into the first end-of-round final are three of the teams in action today. Leading the pack are Portmore United, who host Seba United at Ferdie Neita Park. Their opponents are next in line in terms of the likelihood of getting to the coveted final, while Harbour View, who play away to Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive, could benefit if one or both teams slip up.
None of the three teams have a clear path into the final as was made clear at the weekend when leaders Portmore United were held to a 0-0 draw by Arnett Gardens, while Seba United were stopped 2-1 by the previously poor-performing Reno. Harbour View got back into the picture after squeezing out a 1-0 win over Tivoli Gardens.
No sure team
The results on the weekend show that no team can be seen as a sure three points by any other. To preserve their chances, Portmore and Seba need at least one point from today's game, while a loss for Seba and a win for Harbour View would almost kill off Seba's chances as Harbour View would go up to 18 points and need just a draw with Arnett Gardens, the teams with the most draws - seven - to advance.
That scenario would put Seba and Harbour View on 18 points, provided Seba get by Sporting Central in their final fixture of the round. Then a tiebreaker would come into play.
Portmore, currently on 18 points, could advance with a minimum of at least two draws and should be favoured to get them. They close the round away to Reno at STETHS.
As far as the games are concerned, Portmore United will be counting on the likes of captain Anthony Modeste, the experienced Onandi Lowe, Mario Swaby, Wolry Wolfe, Steve Morrissey and Tyrone and Shawn Sawyers to swing the game in their favour. Fabian Davis, Kevin Deerr, Carlington Smith and Jermaine Richards are injured and will not be of service to their team.
Leading the charge for Seba will be Ricardo Geddes, Delroy Ellis, veterans Norman Foster and Daniel Ricketts, Wilfred Smith and Oliver Trail.
A better performance
Harbour View, though they struggled to beat Tivoli Gardens on Sunday, should put up a better performance against Boys' Town, who were whipped 3-0 by St. Georges. While they will again be without Kavin Bryan to suspension, a game after returning from a similar enforced break, they should be able to call on the services of Gregg Taylor to accompany Fabian Taylor up front. Goalkeeper Dwayne Miller has been in excellent form this season and is expected to continue in the same vein while the likes of Jermaine Hue, Robert Scarlett, Christopher Harvey and Jermaine Taylor should give a good account of themselves.
Playing at home, Boys' Town are expected to perform with a lot of pride, especially after their humiliating loss to St. Georges. If they are to pull off a victory or even a draw and retard Harbour View's progress then goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie, Fabian Watkins, Oneil McDonald, Jermaine Bailey and Adrian Jackson will have to shake off the lethargy they displayed against St. Georges.
TODAY'S GAMES
Boys' Town vs Harbour View at Collie Smith Drive - 3:00 p.m.
Portmore United vs Seba United at Ferdie Neita Park - 3:00 p.m.
