Seba 'anxious' over return to Premier League

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Despite having four rounds of matches to complete their fixture, Seba United crowned themselves 2011-12 Captain's Bakery & Grill Western Super League football champions, when they clipped arch-rivals Wadadah FC 1-0 in their 18th-round fixture at the UDC playing field in Montego Bay.

The win, their 16th of season, lifted Seba United's points tally to an unassailable 50, which not only won The Captain's Bakery Trophy and the $150,000 winner's purse, but they have also qualified for the upcoming Digicel Premier League (DPL) qualifying tournament, which will yield two qualifiers for the 2011-12 season.

"Even if we lose the next four games no team can overtake ... the title is ours," said Seba United's administrator, Kareen Kelly. "We are happy to have qualified for the DPL play-offs because we are anxious to get back into the Premier League ... three years in the wilderness is a long time."

In a game in which second-place Wadadah were hoping to win to at least end the season with bragging rights over their perennial rivals, they gave a spirited display, but in the end one of their defenders inadvertently put the ball past his own goalkeeper to give Seba United their 1-0 win and the title.

Outstanding games

The Daniel Rickettes-coached Wadadah, who defeated Seba United in the competition's mid-season final - which carried no point - but lost both of their regular fixtures to coach Danilo Barriga's men, are now on 34 points, and even if they win their five outstanding games, they cannot amass more than 49 points.

"We were hoping to go all the way this season, but it cannot happen again so we are very disappointed," said Wadadah's star striker, Curtis Palmer. "We will just try to at least end the season in second place and start planning for next season."

In what has been a fabulous season for Seba United, who were relegated from the DPL three seasons ago, they have won 16 games and drawn the other two, which makes them the only unbeaten team in the competition's regular season. To date, they have score 46 goals and conceded a mere four.

In another high-profile game played on Sunday, Montpelier consolidated fourth position with a 2-0 win over former champions Granville FC, behind goals from Lenore Campbell in the 68th minute and Delroy Smith in the 76th minute. The win lifted Montpelier to 28 points - one behind Frome.

In other games, Russia, behind goals from Kingsley James (two), Kevar Thomas and Roan Wilson, defeated Exodus 4-1, while Harmony, with goals from Everett Mullings, Ricardo Reid and Oshane Spence, outscored Cousin's Cove 3-1.