Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
WITH TWO rounds of games to go to the end of the KSAFA/JN Super League season, there is still a little daylight between August Town and Meadhaven at the top of the standings following the completion of Saturday's round of games.
August Town and Medhaven had entered the round locked on 35 points apiece but last year's Major League champions Police National, playing with 10 men for most of the second half, held August Town to a 0-0 tie at the Mona Bowl, which contributed to some breathing space between the top two teams.
Meadhaven, which moved to 38 points, took care of business themselves by beating Rae Town 3-0 at Campion College. Despite the win, Medhaven are still unable to claim championship honours.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
They face August Town (36 points) this Saturday at Campion in a game August Town's coach Christopher Bender says will be the 'championship match'.
On Saturday, August Town found Police National (32 points) to be a competitive bunch. For most of the first half both teams traded blows, but none resulted in goals.
Police National came closest in the 34th minute when a 20-yard drive from Derrick Jackson was cleverly tipped over the bar by Devon Haughton in August Town's goal.
The second half saw a more defensive Police National, particularly due to persistent attacking from August Town and the tiring of Police striker Kavin Bryan. Police defence was hard to breach though.
August Town got a lifeline when Police National central defender Neville Brown was ejected on 60 minutes after a wicked tackle on Nicholas Smith. Brown was the last man back as Smith approached the penalty box. The resulting free-kick bore no fruit.
Eight minutes from time though, Tramaine Stewart got between two defenders and squeezed the trigger, only to see Robert Levy block his shot from point-blank range.
A pleased Calvin Lewis, coach of Police National, credited the way his team defended for the point they earned.
"We defended well and that earned us the point. We are still four points behind August Town so we have to work on two positive results for the next games," Lewis said.
Meanwhile, Bender believed the magnitude of the game contributed to his team not winning.
"...But we can't see this as a defeat. We have to motivate ourselves for the match of the season next week. Only a win will be good," he said.
In other games, Santos drew 1-1 with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Maverley/Hughenden played to a 3-3 tie with Greenwich Town while Barbican beat Shortwood United 1-0.
