Points at a premium as Trojans attempt to avoid the drop
Somerset Trojans captain Jadan Ratteray-Smith says he and his team-mates fully understand the significance of their remaining two matches as they attempt to stave off relegation.
Trojans find themselves in the drop zone, three points adrift of safety, and locked in a two-horse relegation battle with Young Men’s Social Club heading into this weekend’s penultimate round of the Premier Division campaign.
“We are at a stage where every point is crucial really, so the game this weekend is pretty significant,” Ratteray-Smith told The Royal Gazette.
“We are just focused on putting our best foot forward and being prepared to give it our all and whatever happens after that is out of our control.”
Trojans are away to Paget Lions at Southampton Oval tomorrow and with their back against the wall are up for the task at hand.
“The team is up for the task and I think we showed it last week after going down to ten men [against Hamilton Parish] and behind but still fighting to the last minute to get a result [3-3 draw],” Ratteray-Smith added.
“I think it shows that everyone is aware of the importance of these games and the effort needed to try to get the results we require.”
Social Club will host Devonshire Cougars at Police Field tomorrow in the hopes of achieving a positive result to distance themselves farther from the relegation zone.
“We definitely know the importance of the game as far as our common goal, which was to stay in the Premier Division,“ Social Club coach Michael Smith said. “So as far as the significance is concerned, we are definitely aware of that and we will come like we come every week, looking to put in a 110 per cent effort forward.”
Elsewhere tomorrow, Hamilton Parish will host relegated X-Roads Warriors at Wellington Oval in the remaining contest in the top flight.
Premier Division action resumes today with St George’s Colts hosting Dandy Town at Wellington Oval.
The Premier Division title race could be decided in the final game of the season after the much anticipated top-of-the-table clash between leaders North Village and champions PHC Zebras originally scheduled for today was moved as a result of Bermuda’s trip to Saudi Arabia for the new Fifa Series.
Four North Village players and coach Kenny Thompson are a part of the travelling contingent, resulting with Bermuda Football Association rescheduling the Village/PHC clash to the week of April 1 on a date to be confirmed, with the match set to provide a thrilling conclusion to the Premier Division season.
As it stands, Village hold a one-point advantage at the summit over Zebras.
Meanwhile, with unbeaten leaders Devonshire Colts having already clinched the First Division title and promotion, all eyes are on the race for the remaining promotion spot up for grabs.
Second-placed Robin Hood, who occupy the remaining promotion spot, have already played their full quota of league matches.
Wolves will fancy their chances of overhauling Hood and clinching promotion as they have two games remaining. They presently sit third, four points behind Hood, and will host third-from-bottom Somerset Eagles at Bernard Park tomorrow.
Fourth-placed Southampton Rangers are at home to bottom-team Ireland Rangers in tomorrow’s remaining second-tier clash.
Rangers are six points adrift of the remaining promotion spot and can mathematically reel Hood in, but must win their remaining fixtures against Ireland Rangers and Vasco by big margins if they are to stand any chance of going up in the event the promotion race comes down to goal difference, with Hood and third-placed Wolves holding a considerable advantage on that criteria.
First Division kicks off today with Boulevard hosting Shield champions St David’s Warriors at Goose Gosling Field.
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