Granville's Jason Rose (left) is tackled by Sporting Central's Christopher Mason during their National Premier League play-off match at Brancourt yesterday. Looking on is Mason's teammate Dale Watson. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

SPORTING CENTRAL Academy and St. George's realised their dreams of playing in the top tier of local football as the Wray and Nephew National League play-offs came to close yesterday.

For Sporting Central, a 0-0 draw against Granville was good enough to secure their spot as they finished on 11 points - ahead of St. George's who amassed the same total - on goal difference. St. George's polished off their long season in fine style when they downed already-eliminated Police National 3-1.

"Us winning brings the highest level of football to this side of country and that's a big thing," said an elated Everton King, president of the Portland club.

"It brings vibrancy to the community and we expect to have people even from the surrounding parishes coming to watch the games," the St. George's president said.

Commanding the game

St. George's left nothing to chance and first-half goals by Hillelide Dean and Omar Brissett put them in command. Sheldon Campbell struck for Police National at the start of the second half but Omar Henderson slammed the door shut with a goal midway the second half for St. George's.

There were no goals at Brancourt where Sporting hosted Granville, but that did not mean there weren't plenty of frayed nerves.

"If I was someone with a weak heart, I'd be worried about a heart attack as this was one of the most gruelling games I've been involved in," said Sporting Central coach Kevin Williams.

"I think they were tentative as a team and I understand the nerves but the result is what counts," Williams said.

Williams saw his team dominate most of the first half but fail to find the back of the net.

Delightful football

Granville's Loxley Reid dived full stretch to keep out a cracker from Gary Hughan as early as the 14th minute. Another spell of delightful football from Sporting ended with Oneke Ford bearing down on Reid 10 minutes later. Again, alert goalkeeping by the custodian, who flung himself at the feet of the striker in the 32nd minute, ensured the game remained scoreless.

Granville had the better opportunities in the second half. The best of them fell to their captain, Jermaine Anderson, who found the ball at his feet a mere 10 yards away from goal after a scuffle in midfield.

However, his powerful shot in the 90th minute taken from a slight angle, rolled harmlessly into the side netting.