Three of the four teams competing in the National Premier League play-off are tied at the top on seven points following yesterday's round of matches, setting the stage for some interesting battles with two games left to decide which two teams will advance to the local Premiership.

Sporting Central opened the race for the two Premier League spots with a 2-0 win over previous leaders St. George's of Portland at Brancourt, while Granville drew 1-1 with Police, the only team out of contention, at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay.

On a knife's edge

Onike Ford struck in the 33rd minute while Jevaughn Watson powered one home from 15 yards in the 88th minute to spare Sporting Central blushes after the Portlanders had fought hard to keep the game on a knife's edge, even after losing two players via the red-card route.

In the game at the Catherine Hall Stadium, the Granville team, which clipped Police National 1-0 in the first round, looked all set for a repeat when striker Jermaine Anderson fired them into a 1-0 first-half lead in the 20th minute. However, with two minutes to go in the game, Sheldon Campbell found the equaliser for Police National who now have one point in their campaign.

Sporting Central looked the better team on the grassy Brancourt surface with Hughan Grey on the right side and the pair of Cornel Learmond and Watson providing good service through the middle to point man Ford. It was no surprise when Ford was sent clear in the 33rd minute, and despite a brief tussle with defender Ricardo Taylor in a foot-chase to goal, goalkeeper Adrian Williams was a sitting duck to his passing shot on the edge of the six-yard line.

Vicious taylor

Five minutes later, Taylor, brother of National defender Jermaine Taylor, seemed eager to make amends, and drifted much too far out of his defensive area and let loose a vicious tackle on Hughan Grey at the half-line. Taylor was initially given a yellow card, but the assistance referee's intervention ensured standing referee Kevin Thomas, issued a red card.

St. George's received another critical setback 10 minutes in the second-half when Barrington James received a second yellow card for a tackle on Learmond, just after the former Glenmuir daCosta Cup star had sent a long, diagonal pass to Grey.

It seemed harsh given the context of the game, and many felt the flood gates would have been open. However, Sporting Central muffed chance after chance with Ford and substitute Shawn Francis the main culprits. St. George's stayed in the game throughout, epitomising a team still with the distinct potential of grabbing a Premier League spot. They hung tough in defence and even had moments of potential glory, hitting the cross bar and Damion Harwood forcing a scratchy clearance after beating goalkeeper, Waldo Ricketts.