Today’s games

3:30 pm Humble Lion vs Cavalier @ Effortville Community Centre

3:30 pm Savannah vs Boys’ Town @ Frome Sports Complex

3:30 pm Highgate United vs Portmore United @ Drax Hall

6:30 pm Harbour View vs Sporting Central Academy @ Harbour View Mini-Stadium

6:30 pm Montego Bay United vs Arnett Gardens @ Catherine Hall Complex

Monday

9:00 pm Tivoli Gardens vs Waterhouse @ Edward Seaga Stadium

By Howard Walker

Observer senior reporter

walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

With seven games remaining in the season, Savannah FC could be relegated from the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) today if they lose to Boys’ Town and Humble Lion defeat Cavalier.

At the other end of the spectrum, Harbour View’s mentality will be severely tested when they host Sporting Central Academy knowing they can’t afford to slip up much further with Waterhouse FC breathing down their necks.

Leaders Harbour View are on top with 61 points and hold an eight-point lead over the chasing and dangerous Waterhouse FC, on 53 points, and they know that they cannot afford to slip up against eighth-placed Sporting Central Academy, on 39 points.

Having lost to Waterhouse and seen their lead reduced to eight points, Harbour View will be under a little pressure not to drop any more points and will find it difficult against a talented Sporting Central team looking for a top six position.

With second-placed Waterhouse inactive until Monday against sixth-placed Tivoli Gardens, on 45 points, Boys’ Town, sitting in third spot on 51 points, could jump into second with the expected defeat of Savannah FC.

The Westmoreland-based Savannah are rooted to the bottom of the league on 18 points and trail Highgate United by 13 points with Humble Lion a further three points ahead.

If they lose today and Humble Lion win that gap would increase to an unassailable 19 points with only six games remaining and that would be the end of Savannah’s short stint in top-flight football.

This Savannah team seemed to have accepted their faith as only three substitutes turned up for their last match against Arnett Gardens and although playing at home, they should suffer their 13th home defeat and 22 overall.

If Boys’ Town believe they have a slim chance of winning the title, then defending champions Portmore United should also believe they too have a shot. They are currently fourth on 49 points and play away to 11th-placed Highgate United on 31 points desperately seeking crucial points in their relegation fight.

Meanwhile, Humble Lion are just three points above Highgate and take on a Cavalier team in ninth spot and just four points ahead of them on 38 points in what is another intriguing relegation battle.

A win for Humble Lion would bring Cavalier into the dog fight, something that the David Lalor-coached team is trying to avoid.

Having already secured a top six finish, fifth-placed Arnett Gardens, on 48 points, travel to seventh-placed Montego Bay United, on 41 points, and hunting a top six spot at the expense of Tivoli Gardens.

The St James outfit would have to win and hope that Tivoli Gardens lose, thereby setting the stage for an exciting end to the third round.

RSPL table as at March 25, 2013

Team Home Away

P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts

Harbour View 31 9 5 1 23 7 8 5 2 19 7 28 61

Waterhouse 31 9 4 3 26 11 5 7 3 14 10 19 53

Boys’ Town 31 9 4 3 26 17 6 3 6 14 15 8 51

Portmore United 31 6 7 3 16 11 7 3 5 22 11 16 49

Arnett Gardens 31 7 5 4 24 23 6 4 5 19 16 4 48

Tivoli Gardens 31 6 3 6 20 17 6 6 4 15 14 4 45

Montego Bay 31 7 5 3 22 14 4 3 9 13 19 2 41

Sporting Central 31 6 4 6 14 14 5 2 8 22 24 -2 39

Cavalier 31 5 3 8 12 20 5 5 5 15 16 -9 38

Humble Lion 31 6 5 4 14 13 2 5 9 12 24 -11 34

Highgate 31 3 5 7 13 17 5 2 9 17 26 -14 31

Savannah 31 2 1 12 6 26 2 5 8 10 31 -45 18

* Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw.

* The bottom two teams will be automatically relegated