BT, Arnett face tough opponents

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Clubs based on Collie Smith Drive will share the spotlight in the Digicel Premier League today as they will be involved in games with the joint leaders Portmore United and Waterhouse.

In the first of the two games which gets under way at 3:30, Boys' Town host Waterhouse before Arnett Gardens and Portmore United square off three hours later at Ferdie Neita Park.

For the fourth-ranked Boys' Town, this game will mainly be about regaining lost pride following their 5-1 hammering on Wednesday at the hands of defending champions Harbour View. This was despite looking like the more dangerous team in the first half.

Coach Price will have the task of refocusing his charges and getting perhaps the most demanding and 'knowledgeable' bunch of supporters back in his corner.

Big encounter

"It is my job to get them back on track. That is why I am a coach. I have to get them ready and motivated again. We are not the type of team that should get a 5-1 beating. Our players know that within themselves," Price said of his task.

"This Waterhouse game is a big encounter. We have to get ourselves prepared. If we want to or have any intention to play in the end-of-round final we have to start picking up the three points now. This game is a very important one, and playing at home we have to get those three points," he added.

To get those three points they will have to start finding the back of the next. Forward Dean Thompson struck twice in the first game and has shut off since, while Shane Edwards is having difficulties with his compass and Renae Lloyd is still to find his best form. Maybe, just maybe, coach Price will have to pluck someone from the bench and thrust him into a starting role.

Waterhouse, on the other hand, while not being the most fluent have been managing to win. If Boys' Town respond like a team with character then Waterhouse could have a tough afternoon.

"As you can see from the points standing and the results, the competition has been tight so far and Boys' Town must be hurt by that loss to Harbour View," said assistant coach Marcel Gayle.

"Waterhouse have not been playing their best football but have been doing enough to win, but we are looking to improve and will expect our marksman Jermaine Anderson to continue to do well," Gayle added.

Defensively, Gayle said, the team has been sound with Keneil Moodie growing in command and Richard McCallum putting on some good performances. Offensively, the team has been struggling and one man could do a bit to change that today according to Gayle.

"Peter Keys should also do well. When players go back to their old club they want to make an impact and I expect him to do that even with the (hostile) reception that we expect him to get from the fans," Gayle opined.

At Ferdie Neita Park, Linval Dixon is expecting his refashioned team to continue their upward climb.

"The main reason for our performance so far this season is discipline. As you know, a lot of players left the club in the off-season so we have mostly youngsters working with and they are more receptive to what we are trying to achieve. We also have a number of mature players who are making a major contribution.

"Players such as Ricardo Cousins, Mario Swaby and especially Steve Morrissey have really taken on the responsibility of being leaders in the team and I expect no less today," a confident Dixon said.

Arnett Gardens' Wayne Fairclough, who has been able to coach good performances out of the veterans Kevin Wilson and Cornel Chin-Sue, blended with the energy of the youthful Ricardo Stern and Racheede Clarke, is hoping for a win.

"Portmore United have a good crop of young players who are doing well, but we will try to keep them in check and hit them with the opportunities that we will get," explained Fairclough.

The Tivoli Gardens-Harbour View game could be a cracker. Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles, despite the handsome win over Boys' Town in midweek, made it clear that his team will have to improve on their discipline and sharpen up defensively if they are to continue winning.

National attackers

Michaud Barrett and Jermaine Hue were praised for their goalkeeping and offensive play respectively, and they will need to be just as good, if not better, to stave off the attack of Tivoli Gardens who are playing at home. With three national attackers Navion Boyd, Devon Hodges and Keammar Daley, in their starting team Tivoli Gardens supporters will not take kindly to another below-par performance.

Humble Lion have been like a lion without teeth since the start of season and with a change of coach they are expected to add more bite. Goals have been in short supply and new coach Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde could show them how. If they are to reverse their fortunes then the newly promoted Benfica could be the ideal prey.

Village United have been strong at home, and Sporting Central, should they fail to score again, could leave Elliston Wakeland Centre pointless.

Today's games

1. 3:30 p.m: Boys' Town vs Waterhouse - Boys' Town
   
2. 3:30 p.m: Humble Lion vs Benfica - Effortville Community Centre
   
3. 3:30 p.m: Reno vs St Georges - Frome Complex
   
4. 3:30 p.m: Village United vs Sporting Central - Elliston Wakeland Centre
   
5. 5:00 p.m: Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View - Edward Seaga Complex
   
6. 6:30 p.m: Portmore United vs Arnett Gardens - Ferdie Neita Park