Harbour View look to get back on track

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Harbour View will have an excellent chance to make a statement when the Digicel Premier League (DPL) resumes today after a two-week break.

They will meet former champions and round one pacesetters Waterhouse in one of six games on today. In the last set of games played, Waterhouse were the only team to register a victory while Harbour View played to a 0-0 draw with second-placed Portmore United.

Harbour View fielded their strongest team of the season in their last two games against Arnett Gardens and Portmore United but they managed just one goal. Coach Donovan Hayles has recognised all season that his team's weakness is in the goalscoring department especially after the departure of Kavin Bryan and Andre Fagan to Vietnam.

Defensively, they have been very strong and the return of Montrose Phinn to partner the steady Dicoy Williams in the centre of defence has made them more impregnable.

"Last year when we won the competition, it is in defence where we were dominant," said Hayles.

It is that defensive strength and the excellent goalkeeping which have seen them keep a clean sheet in the last six games that will give them the edge over Waterhouse who have scored eight goals in their last three games.

"We did not score the number of goals as Tivoli Gardens who finished second (last season) but we were able to prevent a number of teams from scoring on us and that enabled us to win games. It is very pleasing to see that we have gone six games without conceding a goal," Hayles explained.

Waterhouse assistant coach Marcel Gayle expressed confidence that Waterhouse will come out the victors.

Interesting encounter

"It is a very interesting encounter at a crucial stage of the competition and for us, the three points are vital. This is a crucial stage of the biggest competition in local football so our intention is to make the most of it and we are ready to go," Gayle said, adding that in the two encounters so far between the two teams, the first was drawn at Harbour View and Waterhouse won the other at home.

The Waterhouse team, according to Gayle, is fully fit with the only player they are unable to call on is Kevin Lamey who has moved to Humble Lion.

"Kevin Lamey has been a stalwart at this club but I will not comment too much on his departure except to say that he served us well and that his experience will be missed. While he will be missed, I think we have capable young players who have the ability to do well and we have the confidence in them," added Gayle.

With Lamey gone, Waterhouse will look to Jermaine Anderson, Peter Keyes, Andre Clennon, and the midfield duo of Kenardo Forbes and Vincent Earle. Harbour View on the other hand, will rely on the rejuvenated Jermaine Hue, Marcelino Blackburn and Andre Steele.

In other games, ninth-placed Arnett Gardens will host seventh-placed Sporting Central at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex while the battling Village United will play away to the struggling Benfica at Drax Hall.

Following their draw in the last round of games, Boys' Town will go for a win against Reno at Collie Smith Drive but will have to do so without the trio of Anthony Dawes, Renae Lloyd, and central defender Wayne Ellis.

Leaders Tivoli Gardens who are awaiting the return to full fitness of Keammar Daley, will seek to maintain their dominance over Humble Lion when both teams meet at Effortville, while Portmore United minus the influential Ricardo Cousins play away to St Georges at Lynch Park.

Today's games

1. 3 p.m: Benfica vs Village United - Drax Hall
   
2. 3:30 p.m: Boys' Town vs Reno - Boys' Town
   
3. 6 p.m: Arnett Gardens vs Sporting Central - Anthony Spaulding Complex
   
4. 6:30 p.m: Harbour View vs Waterhouse - Harbour View Stadium
   
5. 6:30 p.m: St Georges vs Portmore United - Lynch Park