File - Rivoli's Devon Hodges
Village, Rivoli battle for spot in elite six

Ryon Jones, Star Writer

Village United and Rivoli United will be vying for the final spot in the elite top-six when the ultimate set of matches get under way in the third round of the Digicel Premier League.

Village United (40 points) currently occupy sixth position and will travel to fifth-place St Georges (43 points) knowing that a point will see them maintaining their position in the top six. If Village leave the game empty handed and seventh-place Rivoli (37 points) were to score a victory over bottom-place Sporting Central Academy (32 points), Rivoli would take the coveted sixth spot as they have a superior goal difference.

Village United assistant coach, Cassman Williams, knows that one point will be good enough but he intends for his team to play to win.

"We would love to get three points there and we will be going up there and working with the intention of getting them, but one point is basically good enough for us," said Williams.

top six

Rivoli's coach O'Neil Thomas is hoping St Georges will do them a favour and beat Village, giving them a chance to reclaim sixth position.

"Come Sunday we understand that if Georges don't lapse, come to play, and beat Village, it is up to us to beat Sporting Central," said Thomas.

"It is very important for us to be in the top six but if it doesn't work we still have to fight hard to be in the Premier League and I think the players are up to that challenge as well," he added.

League leaders and defending champions Tivoli Gardens (63 points) will be trying to consolidate their position at the top of the 12-team table when they tackle 10th-place Portmore United (35 points). Despite Portmore United's languishing close to the foot of the standings, they have managed to avoid defeat at the hands of the league leaders in two previous meetings this season.

In the other games second-place Harbour View (61 points) will seek to rebound from their disappointing 1-2 loss to Village United when they travel to ninth-place Arnett Gardens (36 points) who are on a seven-game unbeaten run.

Third-place Waterhouse (47 points) who secured their first win of the round last week when they clipped August town 1-0, have a tricky encounter away to fourth-place Boys' Town (45 points). August Town (34 points) will seek to pull themselves out of the drop zone and get some momentum going into the final round when they entertain eighth-place Humble Lion (36 points).

In the fourth and final round the top six teams will compete against each other but with only Tivoli and Harbour View are in with realistic chances of winning the title, the other four teams - Waterhouse, Boys Town, St Georges and either Village United or Rivoli - will take comfort in the fact that they can not be relegated.



Tomorrow's games

Portmore United vs Tivoli Gardens

at Ferdie Neita Park

Boys Town vs Waterhouse

at Collie Smith Drive

Arnett Gardens vs Harbour View

at Anthony Spaulding Complex

St Georges vs Village United

at Lynch Park

Rivoli United vs Sporting Central Academy

at Prison oval

August Town vs Humble Lion

at UWI Bowl, Mona

All games are slated to start at 3:30 p.m.