by Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Donovan Duckie ... coach of St Georges - file

IT'S down to the last game of the round in the National Premier League with Portmore out in front, cruising on a five-point lead. However, the leaders' away game at relegation-threatened Reno has taken a back seat to mid-table action where four teams are battling for sixth spot to play among the elite in the fourth round.

Promoted St Georges hold down sixth spot, on goals scored, over Village United with both teams on 39 points and facing formidable foes on the road this afternoon.

St Georges are at second-place Tivoli Gardens whereas Village will be across Spanish Town Road, facing third-place Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive.

St Georges and Village are tied on points, head-to-head meetings and goal difference, putting both teams in do-or-die situations to avoid playing among the bottom six teams to avoid relegation in the five-match fourth round.

Nothing but victory for St Georges and Village can ensure survival as Sporting Central and Seba United, who square off at Brancourt on 38 and 37 points respectively, still have live shots of advancing with favourable results.

Coach Donovan Duckie yesterday admitted beating Tivoli at the Edward Seaga Stadium would be a tall order especially after losing 3-2 in the first round.

"Playing against Tivoli is always going to be difficult especially with our away record not good," said Duckie, whose team has only won once on the road this season.

However, the young coach said his team would have to put it all behind them this afternoon.

"This game, irrespective of where we play, we just have to go out and get it right," he said.

"We need to win this game, be organised and focused and our concentration has to be good," he pointed out. "We also have to be aware of intimidation from the opponent. They are an aggressive team and have their home support. We just have to be at our best and hope for a win," he added.

Despite sitting eight points above St Georges in the standings, Tivoli dare not take the men from Portland lightly.

St Georges actually led Tivoli 1-0 at half-time in their 3-2 loss. However, the home team came out storming after the break and scored two quick goals to go 2-1 up before adding a third.

St Georges showed character to reduce the deficit late in the game, indicating they were improving on the road. Champions Harbour View got the message in the third round when St Georges notched what remains their only road win of the season, 2-0 at Compound in the third round.

With Damion Harwood back from a six-match injury lay-up, St Georges should be more than competitive, but will still be hard-pressed to get the better of Tivoli, who have lost back-to-back games, falling five points behind in their bid to catch Portmore atop the standings.

Across the road at Boys' Town, Village are not for a moment to be taken lightly. Despite drawing four consecutive games, the men from Trelawny are unbeaten in the third round and must have a hint of confidence about them after whipping Boys' Town 3-0 in the second round at the Elliston Wakeland Centre.

Boys' Town are tough at home where they drew 1-1 with Village in the first round and should start favourites with George Vernal, Michael Campbell and Denzil Watson being pushed by a partisan crowd.

However, former national striker, Tegat Davis, said Village would be gunning for three points.

"It will be a tough game," he admitted. "Boys' Town lost their last game and want to improve their standings in the top six. We just have to apply ourselves and see what we can do.

"With four teams going for sixth place, we've to go out there tomorrow wanting to win and get three points."

The match-up between outsiders Sporting Central and Seba is set to be a cracker and possibly a high-scoring affair at Brancourt. In two meetings, the teams have shared seven goals. Sporting won their first round clash 2-1 at Brancourt before the teams battled to a 2-2 draw at Jarrett Park.

In other games, defending champions Harbour View are still not ruling out their chances, sitting 14 points off the leaders and must start favourites to put away last-place Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Next-to-last August Town have it all to do at Waterhouse, whereas Reno should be another Portmore victim at St Elizabeth High.