Western Jamaica’s two Red Stripe Premier League teams, Montego Bay United and FC Reno, will be fighting different battles as the third round comes to a close, and the end of the regular season seems set to be exciting.

After their third loss of the season to Portmore on Monday night, Montego Bay United fell out of first place – one point behind the winners – while FC Reno are just three points above the relegation zone with just three rounds of matches left to be played.

Montego Bay United have already qualified for a third straight semi-final place and are chasing the $1-million bonus for the team that finishes the three rounds with the most points.

A win on Monday would have moved them to within touching distance of their first ‘regular season championships’, but once again they fell to the promoted Portmore United, despite Owayne Gordon pulling level with teammate Dino Williams with 15 goals at the top of the goalscoring tables.

On Sunday, Montego Bay United will face defending champions and another semi-final qualifier Arnett Gardens, in Kingston, and will then face Rivoli United away from home, then end at home against Harbour View.

Arnett Gardens who are two points behind Montego Bay United, have not lost against the St James club this season, drawing the first game in Montego Bay, then winning the second in Kingston.

The return of Williams to the Montego Bay team, and paired with Gordon, will give the rural team a serious scoring threat that could make the difference on the way to the top of the tables.

FC Reno seems headed for another ‘heart-attack’ finish, after they only managed to save their place last season on the very last day of the regular season.

Wins have been hard to come by for the Westmoreland club and they have only themselves to blame with back-to-back draws -2-2 at home at Portmore United two weeks ago and 3-3 against Tivoli Gardens on Sunday.

Had they managed to win those games FC Reno would have been in mid-table comfort and preparing for next season in the Premier League.

Now it will not be an easy run to the line, as they will face semi-final aspirants Harbour View, fellow relegation strugglers Waterhouse FC and then end against UWI-Mona, who could still be in the hunt for a semi-final place.