Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Village United have been battling at the bottom of the table most of the season (left) and newcomers St Georges narrowly missed out on the top six (right).

WITH JUST eight points separating the teams in positions six through 12 and a meagre four games to go in the season, just about anything can happen in the heated battle for top-flight survival.

It doesn't take a mathematical genius to realise that in such a delicately poised position, any slip could lead to a slide right into relegation.

According to Village coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis, whose team got off to an excellent start in the final round by beating St Georges, the battle for survival won't be anything new for his club this season.

"We have been in the relegation zone for most of the season, so we have been fighting for a long time, but we are determined to stay up and we are confident enough to do so," Davis said.

When Davis took over as head coach at the Trelawny team, it languished at the bottom of the table and relegation seemed a certainty.

Remarkable run

Reno have gone from title contenders to also-rans in one season (left) and Struggling August Town are heading for relegation (right).

However, a remarkable run in the penultimate round saw the team eventually challenge for a safe spot in the top flight by the final game of the third round. However, Village lost out after going down 3-0 to Boys' Town.

Also challenging for a spot in the top six were newcomers St. Georges. However, they were bounced out of contention by title contenders Tivoli. The loss seemed to do more than land the club in the bottom six as it also cost coach Donovan Duckie, the man at the helm when the club was promoted, his position as head coach. In their first game under new coach Jeffrey Maxwell the Portland team got off to a shaky start going down 2-0 to Village.

Seba were another team which could have secured a place in the top six on the final day of the competition and had one foot in the door when a last-minute goal by Sporting Central for a 2-2 tie saw them snatch the spot and leave Seba out in the cold.

The Montego Bay team has, however, recovered to get its bid for survival off to a positive start, coming from behind to beat August Town 3-1 this week. August Town had been unbeaten in their last four games.

Perhaps the team everybody has their eyes on is Arnett Gardens and it is hard to go to any football game these days without hearing the whispers 'Arnett is gone'.

Survival guaranteed

Seba United tumbled into the bottom six thanks to a last-minute goal (left) and could once mighty Arnett Gardens take the drop this season (right)? - File photos

Well, not according to their head coach Jerome Waite who guaranteed the survival of the 'Junglists' after beating defending champions Harbour View 1-0 in their final game of the third round. Arnett remain just above the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Reno in their first game of the final round.

From title contenders one season to battling for survival the next, seems an unlikely scenario, but it is one which is now a reality for Reno. The Westmoreland team finished third last season, but with only a handful of games remaining, Reno are second to last and stare relegation dead in the eye.

"It's not where we wanted to be. We have to fight to stay up but I think we have a realistic chance of doing so." said Reno coach Wendell Downswell.

"The team hasn't given up. We are still in good spirits, we didn't start the round as well as we wanted to but we will be going out to get the necessary results," he said.