TG look to maintain winning run

Nodley Wright, leaner Writer

With Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens already qualified for the Digicel Premier League end-of-round final, the main focus of most teams today will be to keep up with the pace, as none will want to be too far behind when the second round begins.

Tivoli Gardens, with a game in hand, host Portmore United at the Edward Seaga Stadium and will be keen to maintain their winning run and improve their chances of ending the round with the most points. Still smarting from their loss to Harbour View on Wednesday, Portmore will by no means enter the game like lambs to the slaughter.

The home team should start favourites with their strike force finding goalscoring form. Devon Hodges, Roland Dean and Keammar Daley have been coming up with the goals, while Edsel Scott and company have been keeping the defence line tight.

Going through the motions

"I think we came out going through the motions, but we addressed that at half-time. I think we came out half-time with a little more purpose, we played purposeful ... " coach Glendon "Admiral" Bailey said, after their win over Reno last Wednesday.

They cannot afford to go through the motions against Portmore United as Steven Morrissey, Ricardo Cousins and company could make them pay.

At the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex Arnett Gardens, under the guidance of new coach Paul "Tegat" Davis and assistant Lidj Yasu Simms, will be eager to continue the miserable run of St Georges. The Portland-based team has been the beating sticks of almost everyone - losing eight of the 10 games - and Arnett Gardens would want to treat them in a similar manner.

For them to do so, the Arnett Gardens frontmen, especially Leon Strickland, will have to find their goalscoring boots. Davis, one of the country's top goalscorers in his time, could be just the man to show them how it is done.

St Georges, if they get their act together, could spring a surprise, as within their ranks is Dever Orgill, one of the best young strikers in the country; and if he can get the quality passes from the consistent and skilful Leon Irving, then Arnett Gardens could be in trouble. Captain Jermaine Taylor appears to be back in the fold after going absent without leave at half-time against Tivoli Gardens. A focused Taylor is one of the best defenders in the country.

Seventh-placed Benfica have been on a good run of late, after claiming the prized scalp of Harbour View and Boys' Town as they steadily climb up the table. Today, they face Reno, a team which earned promotion with them but are far more experienced in terms of top-flight football. A win over Reno would further convince them that they belong among the big boys. Former national representatives Garfield Reid and Wolry Wolfe, as well as Gregory Tape and former Jamaica youth player Craig Gordon, have been good for them and will need to be on top of their game if Benfica are to win.

Reno, a place above Benfica on goal difference, may miss the presence of coach Wendell Downswell who will be in Montego Bay with the country's Under-17 team when they face their Canadian counterparts in the first of two friendly games in preparation for next year's CONCACAF round of their World Cup qualifiers. Without Downswell, captain O'Brian Woodbine and Evan Taylor will have major roles to play in lifting their team.

At Collie Smith Drive, Boys' Town will be gunning to return to winning ways when they host Sporting Central who themselves have not won since coach Donovan Duckie sustained injuries in a car accident.

Humble Lion's biggest test

At Effortville, Lenworth Hyde will have his biggest test since taking over four games ago when his team goes up against Waterhouse. Humble Lion have looked a different team playing a cultured brand of football. They will need to add more if they are to get by the Baris Johnson-coached Waterhouse who could be using this game to fine-tune certain aspects of their play ahead of the end-of-round final against Tivoli Gardens next Sunday.

Village United have not had good results playing at home this season, and could be fancying a change of fortune when they host Harbour View at Jarrett Park in the third game of a triple-header.

Standings