Tough relegation battle for Town

UBUNTU CAPE TOWN are propping up the National First Division table with a third of the season remaining.

They have recorded just three wins from 20 games and a paltry 17 points from a possible 60. The bottom two teams will be relegated.

Town need to target 30 points to have any chance of avoiding the drop to the third tier.

The fact that two of their wins were against topfive sides offers some hope of a reprieve.

Then there are five teams who are within four points of the basement-dwellers.

They are Mthatha Bucks (18 points), Royal Eagles (19), Super Eagles (21), Richards Bay (21) and league rookies Uthongathi (21).

And all of them, bar the Bay, like Town, lost last time out.

So who will survive when the season is done and dusted is up in the air.

Town took out a top-flight club when they beat Premier Soccer League (PSL) strugglers Polokwane City in their Nedbank Cup clash during the week to book a seat in the last 16, the score 3-2 after extra time.

Their next NFD fixture is a derby against high-flying Stellenbosch to be played at Parow Park.

Stellenbosch have amassed 29 points and are only four behind second-placed league newcomers Tshakhuma Tsha Madzihandila.

The men from the Winelands have won two of their last three outings and picked up seven valuable points.

Cape Town All Stars, who led the standings at one stage, are also on a bit of a roll having gone six games unbeaten (one win, five draws).

Stars are 10th and on 26 points, but more importantly, the gap back to third-placed Real Kings is only six points.The second- and third-placed teams will qualify for the promotion play-offs that will include the team that finished 15th in the PSL.

The trio will contest a mini-league (home and away matches) to determine the second team promoted to the top flight.

The top-placed team in the NFD wins automatic promotion to the PSL.

That place is currently being filled by former PSL club Highlands Park.