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OUT-OF-TUNE Valtrin United had to struggle to hold onto a point against ten-man Spain Slappers to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the Big Eight of the Eddie Hart Football League (EHFL).

Valtrin salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks mainly to excellent goal-keeping by their custodian Jamal Jack, who made at least three very important saves at the Eddie Hart Savannah (EHS) in Tacarigua on Sunday night.

The slimly-built Jack made his presence felt very early in the first half when he acrobatically tipped a shot over to deny Slappers, who needed to win their last game of the league stage to give them a chance of going to the playoffs from Group One.

Not very long after, Dwight Crichlow netted his seventh goal of the season when he outran Slappers's defence down the right side before putting the ball in the back of the net away from the advancing goalkeeper.

Knowing that they need full points to remain in the race, the boys in blue pressed forward in search of the equaliser but they were reduced to ten men almost on the stroke of half-time when Joseph Baird was shwn the red carded after his second yellow card by referee Bevon Spencer.

On the resumption, Slappers, who finished with 15 points which might not be enough to see them go though, never looked like the ones playing with ten men. They were able to keep Valtrin's defence alert, while Jack looked the more active of the keepers.

Against the run of play, 2006 champions Valtrin were awarded a penalty after one of their strikers was tripped in the area, but their effort hit the upright.

Slappers deservedly levelled the game with about 20 minutes to go through Kerlon Wilson and they almost claimed all the points had it not been for the brilliance of Jack, who added two more fine saves to his first half effort.

Both were powerfully-struck, point-blank attempts that had goal written all over them in the last ten minutes.

As a result, Valtrin, with one more game to play, remained in third spot behind Arsenal of Santa Cruz, who have 16 points and with a match to play as well.

Pacemakers also have an outside chance of sneaking into the last eight if group leaders Hustlers, who lead on goal difference over Arsenal, beat former champs Valtrin in the teams' final outing of the group stage on November 30.

Pacemakers have 14 points, but they will have to do some work to gain those three points from a formidable CAPs outfits, despite their position (6th) in the standings.

Consistent Hustlers took over the leadership of the group on the back of a comfortable 2-0 triumph over seventh place Temple United of Arima in the first game of Saturday's double-header.

John Belgrave and Richard Sylvester netted for Hustlers, who have made it to the playoffs in the past three seasons. Their best effort is fourth.

Group Three is also turning out to be a tricky one--four clubs are in contention for three places in the next round. They include Paradise FC, who finished with 16 points; Bon Air FC (15 pts), with a final game against unbeaten Samba Boys, who have 18 points from six games, but six points will be deducted for not marching. That match is scheduled for today (Wednesday).

Should Samba win their two remaining games they will top the group, while playing undefeated, and the fourth team is St John United, who have ten points with a couple of games outstanding.

Samba continued to dance their way back into the race, despite the deficit, with a comprehensive 3-0 thumping of mighty Trincity Nationals at the EHS last Friday night.

Dwayne Charles netted twice and Devon Drayton once as Trincity Nationals ended with seven defeats and a win.

Bon Air (15), under new coach Dion Fernandez, stayed interested with a 3-0 victory over El Do Milan in the final game last Saturday night at the Eddie Hart Savannah.

Skipper Abebe ''Piper' Fernandez (sibling of the coach), M Brookes and V Bailey scored in the win.

In other results, CAPs overwhelmed Temple 5-2 in Group One, with a beaver-trick from Jamal Sobers and a single item from Maurice Parks and ITTR defeated Arima Combined 2-0 in Group Three.

The top two sides from the three groups and the best two third-place teams will make up the Big Eight playoffs.