Arrows shoot for the top

Jonty Mark

Golden Arrows head into tomorrow’s National First Division clash with Cape Town All Stars poised for a return to the big time.

Arrows are six points clear of Jomo Cosmos at the top of the NFD, with just two games left to play in the current campaign.

Shaun Barlett’s side thus need just a point against All Stars to ensure their promotion, though they will go up anyway if Cosmos fail to win at home to Thanda Royal Zulu. All Stars, however, are themselves battling hard for a spot in the promotion/relegation play-offs.

The sides that finish second and third in the NFD will play off against the side that finishes 15th in the Absa Premiership for the final top fl ight place. Boebie Solomons’ side are currently third in the table, four points behind Jomo Cosmos, and one point clear of Black Leopards.

The Cape side also infl icted one of only two league defeats Arrows have suffered this season, hammering Bartlett’s side 5-1 in Cape Town in December.

“It is going to be a very tough game, they want to clear up things (their promotion) and we want to try and get into the top three,” said All Stars coach Solomons.

Stars could be further clear of Leopards, but slipped up in a draw at home to African Warriors on Wednesday.

“It was disappointing, we missed a penalty and hit the woodwork a few times. But that is the nature of the game, you have to take the good with the bad,” added Solomons.

Stars now have a very tricky finish to the season. They must play Arrows tomorrow and are at home to Cosmos the following Sunday, which could leave a gap for Leopards or Thanda to overtake them. Thanda are just a point behind Leopards in fourth, as they travel to face Ezenkosi.

“It is going to be tight, we are trying to get points and we are playing Arrows and Cosmos,” said Solomons. “But I would rather play Arrows and Cosmos because you know what to expect, playing Maluti and other teams down the bottom is more difficult.”