Central teams battle for RSPL play-off place

The top two football clubs in Manchester and St Elizabeth have taken another significant step towards the nation's top-flight league.

St Bess FC of St Elizabeth and Downs of Manchester will battle for a place in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) National Play-offs.

The top two teams in the play-offs will qualify for next season's Red Stripe Premier League.

Both teams are expressing confidence ahead of the 4 p.m. clash at St Elizabeth Technical High School this Sunday.

Linval 'Palla' Wilson, a former national defender, said his St Bess team is ready.

"We played them twice in the prelims, 0-0 away and beat them 1-0 at home," said Wilson.

Kemar Ricketts, coach of Downs, was also quick to say they too are ready. He also said that at the 1-0 defeat, they "didn't have some keys players".

Overconfident

Wilson, however, added: "I am confident but not overconfident because a final is a final, it doesn't matter what you do in the preliminary round. I think my team has enough experience. We have enough quality. I think the Downs team is a young team, yes, but with experience and quality, it speaks volumes. We have had a great season, and I think it's our time now to represent the parish of St Elizabeth."

St Bess finished the 10-team league on 42 points from 18 games, while Downs finished fourth on 30 points.

Ricardo Smith, Ricardo Brown, Christopher Dixon and Nick-jay Wright will lead St Bess' fight.

Ricketts, despite the preliminary results and the young average age of his team (20-years-old), believes they have what it takes to beat St Bess.

"We saw them (St Bess) in the semi-finals, and we have identified weaknesses and strength, and we will be approaching the game accordingly," added Ricketts.

Romaine Samuda, Ajay Chin, Shadane Powell and Jason Dyer are the players expected to lead from the front for Downs.

Los Perfectos and Black Stars will meet in the third-place play-off in the opening game.