Intriguing Playoff Race And Relegation Battle Well Underway

It was real showdown in the SKNFA Premier League Tuesday evening as the race for the
playoffs heat up. S-Krave Newtown United, needing a win to put themselves in pole position to
qualify for the playoffs and who were favorites to defeat Trafalgar Southstars, who were looking
to seal their safety in the Premier League, failed to deliver and had to come from behind and
settle for a 2-2 draw. Southstars got off to a very early start when Ronaldo Nisbett scored in the
second minute. Twenty-five minutes later, Dylon Morton doubled the lead putting Newtown in
serious trouble. But Ian “Rumpy” Lake came to the rescue again for Newtown scoring both
goals in the 24th and 78th minutes.

After the match players from both teams rued the missed opportunity to take command of
their destiny. In the case of Southstars, it was a missed opportunity to seal their Premier League
safety, despite the fact that they are still ahead on points to their closest rival Mantab. For
Newtown, it will be an uphill battle and they are probably hoping results in the Old Road/Spurs
match on Thursday end in a draw.

In the night’s other match:

Mantab 2 – 1 Elco Ltd Security Forces

Scoring for Mantab
Jarin Clarke 2nd min
Kirae Jarvis 74th min

Scoring for Security Forces
Donyelle Francis 33rd min

Tuesday night’s results are crucial to the playoff race and relegation battle. The first five playoff
qualifications are confirmed: Village, St. Pauls, Conaree, Cayon and St. Peters. Despite being in
6th place, Spurs are not a shoo-in for the final playoff spot as they share the same 30 points with
Old Road in 7th and Newtown in 8th, but with a superior goal difference of +2.

Coincidentally, Old Road and Spurs play this Thursday at 6pm. The winner for that match is in pole position to make the playoffs. Newtown will hope for a draw in that match and then a victory in their last match against Mantab on Friday. Mantab on the other hand, with their victory Tuesday against
relegation-bound Elco Ltd. Security Forces F.C. will have to defeat Newtown to get the much
needed 12 points to stay up in the Premier League. Southstars are in pole position with 11
points, but failure to hold on to their 2-0 lead and defeat Newtown mean they have to hope for
a draw on Friday between Mantab and Newtown in order to secure their Premier League
safety. Whether it is the playoffs or the relegation fight; it will be down to the very last match of
the regular season.

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Caption: The teams involved in the playoff race and relegation battle.