By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Arnett Gardens' leading goalscorer Leon Strickland (without shirt) and teammate Marcelino Blackburn. - Ian Allen

Neither coach is thinking of the End-of-Round final, but either Portmore United or Arnett Gardens could get closer to qualifying when they face each other at Prison Oval tomorrow afternoon at three in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.

Portmore's Paul Young and Arnett Garden's Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey both dismissed an End-of-Round final berth as priority, although only two games remain in the first round.

For either team to get to the final, third-place Portmore (16) and fourth-place Arnett Gardens (14) must win their remaining two games and hope that both Harbour View (20) and Waterhouse (19) lose.

In the case of Portmore, they must also have a superior goal difference to Harbour View if they both end up on 20 points.

Young didn't seem interested when asked about playing for a berth in the final.

"My focus is winning the games. If we make it to the final we'll play, but I'm thinking of one game at a time," said Young

Bailey, who won the End-of-Round final as well as the championship with Tivoli in 2004, wasn't excited either about the prospect of playing for the first trophy of the season.

More focused

"I have never really looked forward to the End-of-Round final; it is not something I'm killing myself to get," said Bailey.

"I am more focused on establishing the way I want the team to play and make a big run in the second round."

Bailey, who joined Arnett this season, had a slow start with one point from his first three games. But the Junglists have turned things around, winning five of their last six games.

Bailey said he just needed some time with the team for the players to understand him.

"Every coach has his own method and it was just a matter of time before they understood how I wanted them to play," he said. "And of course I've been working on creating unity and discipline in the team, because when I first came that was not here."

Led by league-leading scorer, Leon Strickland with eight goals, Arnett will be put to the sword against a very good defensive Portmore team.

"Portmore are a hard running, physical team and difficult to break down so we're going over there expecting a tough game," he said.

Portmore, also slow starters with three points from their first four games, seem to be getting into their own despite needing an own goal to get past last-placed Naggo Head on Saturday. They have since found their touch, scoring seven goals in their last three games compared to one in their first four.

"We just have to be more consistent," commented Young. "We didn't give up any goals on Saturday so that was good."

Portmore will be without defender Demar Stewart, who is suspended because of an accumulation of cautions, while Arnett will not have the services of Jerry Walters.

PREMIER LEAGUE STANDINGS
Team	P	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Harbour View	9	6	1	2	18	12	+6	20
Waterhouse	9	5	0	4	17	6	+11	19
Arnett Gardens	9	5	3	1	18	15	+3	16
Portmore United	9	3	1	5	11	7	+4	14
Boys' Town F.C.	9	3	1	5	11	10	+1	14
Reno	9	4	3	2	17	14	+3	14
Tivoli Gardens	9	2	3	4	12	13	-1	10
August Town F.C.	9	2	4	3	5	8	-3	9
Seba United F.C	9	3	6	0	11	15	-4	9
Wadadah F.C.	9	3	6	0	10	14	-4	9
Village United	9	2	4	3	6	11	-5	9
Naggo Head F.C.	9	0	6	3	8	19	-11	3

Match Schedule

August Town vs Reno at 3 pm at UWI

Portmore vs Arnett at 3:30 pm at Prison Oval

Village vs Naggo Head at 3 pm at E.W. Centre

Wadadah vs Tivoli at 6 pm at Jarrett Park

Harbour View vs Boys' Town at 7pm at Harbour View

Waterhouse vs Seba at 6 pm at Drewsland