Boy's Town, Tivoli clash in feature

Nodley Wright, Sunday Gleaner Writer

While the issues of a title sponsor are still to be sorted out, defending champions Tivoli Gardens, Portmore United and Waterhouse have not bothered themselves with that but are instead focusing on what they can control - their performances on the field.

All three teams, locked at the top of the National Premier League table on six points from two games, are engaged in an early battle to distance themselves from the rest. Today's encounters throw up interesting match-ups for the trio. The defending champions, following the dismissal of one neighbour last week, are again engaged in a derby. Having beaten Arnett Gardens 2-1, Tivoli Gardens now aim to make it a clean sweep of Collie Smith Drive when they travel away to Boys' Town in the ever-intense West Kingston battle.

Boys' Town are sitting in 11th position of the 12-team table, but positions have never been an accurate measure of results among the three West Kingston rivals. Andrew Price, coach of Boys' Town, is confident his charges will get it right.

"It is not a game that I have to motivate my players for. There is enough rivalry in the West Kingston derby to get them up for this game," Price said whose team has just one point from the two games so far.

Improving with each game

"We were slow out of the box, but are improving game by game. We were four minutes away from getting the full points against Montego Bay United and were unfortunate not to, but I am happy with the improvements that I am seeing," a relaxed Price continued.

What has made Price most happy with his team so far is that the senior players have begun to embrace their responsibility. According to him, the likes of national representative Xavian Virgo, Oneil Thompson and Michael Campbell are now showing they are aware that they will have to carry the team.

Tivoli Gardens' assistant coach Alvin Shaw said that like every other team they go up against, Boys' Town will be treated with respect.

"Despite the fact that Boys' Town have got off to a bad start, we will be taking nothing for granted. We will respect them as we have always respected our opponents," Shaw said.

"From them we are expecting a very competitive game. Yes, they have not got off to a great start so we know they will be coming hard but we are very prepared. We have put in the necessary preparations and are confident that we will be victorious," Shaw said in an easy-going manner.

What makes Shaw so confident is the fact that all his players are fit and available. Mitchley Waul showed last week with a double strike that he is at home in this league, while Navion Boyd is a terror for any defensive unit once he is motivated.

At Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore United with red-hot striker Alanzo Adlam, will be gunning for their third successive win, but the Braxton Hyre-coached Highgate United have shown that they will be no lambs to the slaughter. In two games so far against more fancied and seasoned opponents, they have shown that they are not afraid of a fight. It took a 90-plus-minute goal from Damion Williams to deny them a share of the points, while against Harbour View they overturned a 0-2 goal half-time deficit to share the points.

The pencil-slim Donovan Davis has been finding the back of the net for Highgate and he should continue to get good support from Romeo Parkes in their battle against Adrian Reid, Eric Vernan and company in the Portmore United backline.

Showing no fear

Montego Bay United, like Highgate, have shown no fear against the 'bigger' boys with the seasoned Wilfred Smith, Keneil Moodie and young Troy Reid leading the charge for the team from the second city. Waterhouse, their hosts today, will not be the most hospitable as their focus will be three points. Bitterly disappointed after giving away last season, the Waterhouse management went for former national youth coach Donovan Duckie who has taken to his new environment like a duck to water.

At Harbour View, the home team will belatedly try to get their season off to the kind of start that their fans would have wanted. Having made a number of changes, the team still has not quite gelled, but if Jermaine Hue is on song he could help them find their rhythm. Reno upset Boys' Town on the opening day away from home but another away win could just be beyond them today.

Village United's miserable season could continue today when they host Humble Lion at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium. The Trelawny-based Village are the only pointless team in the league and only a significantly improved showing will see them getting the better of a rejuvenated Humble Lion, with the veteran Kevin Lamey and Wolry Wolfe leading their charge.

Last week, Sporting Central saw off Village United, but Arnett Gardens will be a much tougher opposition - even without the suspended Newton Sterling. Kirk Ramsay continues to be inspirational for Arnett Gardens and, if he could get the kind of support that he requires from Errol Stevens, Rohan Reid and improved goalkeeping from Julian McLeish, then Sporting Central will be hard-pressed to contain them.

• Today's Games
  

Boys' Town vs Tivoli Gardens - Boys' Town -3:30 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Montego Bay United - Waterhouse Mini-Stadium - 6 p.m

Harbour View vs Reno FC - Harbour View Stadium - 6:30 p.m.

Portmore United vs Highgate United - Ferdie Neita Park - 7 p.m.

Village United vs Humble Lion FC - Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium - 3:30 p.m.

Sporting Central vs Arnett Gardens - Brancourt - 3:30 p.m.

• 
  
  Standings

(Tabulated under Teams, P-Play, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Lose, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference and Pts-Points.)