Exciting Effortville clash - Humble Lion, TG set for mouth-watering face-off in RSPL

The Effortville Community Centre could be the site of a shootout today when home team Humble Lion tackle Tivoli Gardens, if last week’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) results are anything to go by.

Both teams had handsome results then.

Fourth-placed Humble Lion blanked defending champions Portmore United 2-0 away from home, while the rejuvenated Tivoli Gardens, who climbed to eighth, swamped Harbour View 3-0.

Going into today’s contest, visitors Tivoli Gardens are buoyed by their last result.

“Definitely it is a good feeling in the camp but we know that Humble Lion are different opponents and how they present and oppose us will be different, but the result was good in that it pushed us up the table,” Tivoli Gardens coach Philip Williams said.

With their eyes set on a playoff spot, Williams knows that his team will have to improve to not only win today, but to erase the four point gap which will see them breaking into the top six.

“We approach each game differently and for this game, we have made the adjustments that we think we need and will be going there for three points. The players are prepared mentally and physically,” a confident Williams assured.

As it relates to improvement in personnel, Williams said they have recruited what he described as a mobile striker, who will add to the offensive qualities possessed by the team. This striker, which he declined to name, could feature today.

Meanwhile, Humble Lion’s Andrew Price expressed pleasure with the way his players have responded so far this season, but still wants more.

“This is an important game. We are playing at home and when you play at home you want to secure the points,” said Price.

“Our modus operandi is to go out there and take the game to them. They are coming into some kind of form as Coach (Philip) Williams seems to be getting them to play well, so we have to be mindful of that. But what we want is some consistency where we can win some back-to-back games and go on a run. We started the year well and want to continue in the same vein,” the former Boys’ Town man said.

The powerful Andre Clennon and Levaughn Williams should lead their charge, while veteran midfielder Renae Lloyd could miss out due to injury and Shamar Rhoden to cards.

Despite this, Price believes there will still be enough ammunition to get the job done.

“We have adequate replacements. The youngsters have come in and acquitted themselves well,” added Price, who is yet to venture into the January transfer market.

Veterans Jermaine Johnson and Newton Sterling as well as the more youthful Trayvon Reid and Rodico Wellington, should play a big role in providing the firepower for Tivoli Gardens.

At Stadium East, seventh-placed Cavalier FC will be fighting to erase the memories of last week’s 0-2 loss away to Dunbeholden, while 10th-placed Molynes FC will be looking to continue on their path of recovery under the guidance of Calvert Fitzgerald.

The UWI Bowl has been the football home for Zhelano Barnes for the first half of the season, but it will be his away ground today when he returns with Dunbeholden, the team he joined last week, to tackle UWIFC.

Andrew Peart, coach of UWIFC, did some recruiting himself and the former Harbour View midfielder Kemar Bennett is one of the players brought in. He could make his debut today.

Former leaders and beaten finalists for the last two years, Waterhouse have not been enjoying the best results of late and this could be the best time for the relegation-bound but ambitious Vere United to meet them.

Twelfth-placed Vere United, who look up at all the teams in the league, can take heart from the fact that 11th-placed UWIFC held Waterhouse 2-2 at home last week and that Molynes United brought their 12-game winless run to an end against them. The fact that Vere are playing at home should be in their favour.

Portmore United will be hoping that their home ground of Spanish Town Prison Oval will be kinder to them this week, as they look to end a two-game losing streak with a win over third-placed Arnett Gardens FC. The defending champions lost 0-2 last week to Humble Lion after losing the previous week to Harbour View.

Arnett Gardens dropped two points on Monday night, as they were held 2-2 by Molynes United and in the process failed to gain ground on leaders Mount Pleasant FA and second-placed Waterhouse FC.

A key to victory for them will be the creation of Vishinul Harris and the goal scoring of Kemal Malcolm. Portmore United’s chance of a victory could be affected by the absence of Cory Burke, who should be heading to Austria on loan.

Today’s Games:

3:00pm UWI FC vs. Dunbeholden FC @ UWI Mona Bowl

3:00pm Vere United FC vs. Waterhouse FC @ Wembley Centre of Excellence

3:00pm Humble Lion FC vs. Tivoli Gardens FC @ Effortville Community Centre

3:00pm Portmore United FC vs. Arnett Gardens FC @ Prison Oval

5:00pm Cavalier FC vs. Molynes United FC @ Stadium East

Tomorrow’s Game:

8:00pm Harbour View FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA @ Harbour View Stadium

Standings

Standings in the National Premier League (Tabulated under Teams, P-Play, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Lose, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD – Goal Difference and O Pts-Overall Points

POINTS STANDING

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Mt. Pleasant 21 12 4 5 34 19 15 40

Waterhouse 21 11 6 4 37 19 18 39

Arnett 21 9 7 5 33 29 4 34

H. Lion 21 8 9 4 23 17 6 33

Dunbeholden 21 9 4 8 24 20 4 31

Portmore 21 9 3 9 22 25 -3 30

Cavalier 21 7 7 7 30 27 3 28

Tivoli 21 7 5 9 24 26 -2 26

H.View 21 7 5 9 20 30 -10 26

Molynes FC 21 7 3 11 23 32 -9 24

UWIFC 21 2 10 9 22 34 -12 16

Vere United 21 2 9 10 16 30 -14 15