Harbour View, Waterhouse set to sizzle

Nodley Wright, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Having watched their opponents claim just one point from a possible nine in their last three games, Harbour View could hardly have hoped for a better time to host Waterhouse in the National Player League.

With just eight points from their six games so far, Harbour View are also struggling but recognise that if they are to remain competitive in this round, now is the best time to get going.

"Based on the context of the competition, we have a few games to go in this round, so this game against Waterhouse is going to be crucial," said Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles, who watched his own team lose to Tivoli Gardens and draw 0-0 with Boys' Town in successive games.

Harbour View will be without the services of their most influential player, Jermaine Hue, who is yet to recover from injuries sustained in the Highgate encounter. With that being the case, the bulk of the leadership responsibility will fall on captain Richard Edwards and Fabian Taylor.

The sixth-placed team has been fair in front of goal as it is one of four teams to score seven goals, so far, the second-highest in the league behind Tivoli Gardens. Defensively, they have been fair as well, but have been let down by silly mistakes.

Waterhouse's Donovan Duckie said despite his team's recent unfavourable results, he is not worried. Following the Arnett Gardens game, he said that his team was suffering psychologically and that there were some issues to be straightened out.

Despite that, he said, his team played well enough.

"It is still early in the season, and we have a bit of a cushion in that, we are still in the top half and are just about four points off the leaders," Duckie reasoned.

Refocus

"It is not when you lose that defines you, but how you rebound. We will have to refocus them and get them to express themselves," he added, looking towards the Harbour View game.

Eighth-placed Boys' Town will have another opportunity to test the strength of their recovery when they play away to third-place Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park. The home team should be fancied, but Boys' Town have shown what they can do on the road by toppling the then unbeaten Waterhouse.

Tivoli Gardens have a history of not playing well away to Village United, but with Village not disturbing any teams this season, Tivoli Gardens should add to their points tally.

The Sporting Central/Montego Bay United encounter at Brancourt should be a good show for the spectators, with the skilful youngsters Troy Reid and Jermaine Woozencroft in action for Montego Bay United, while the dangerous and speedy Leslie St Fleur, Levaughn Williams and company should light it up for the home team. A few miles away, Humble Lion could improve their standing in the league with a further three points at the expense of Westmoreland's Reno Football Club.

Arnett Gardens showed true character and team spirit in playing for over an hour, one man short, to defeat the more fancied Waterhouse 1-0 on Wednesday. That win was at home, and today they travel away to Highgate FC, a team which showed true grit in their early games, but they now appear to be losing their intensity.

• Today's games:

3 p.m. Highgate United FC vs. Arnett Gardens FC @ Lynch Park

3 p.m. Humble Lion FC vs. Reno FC @ Effortville Community Centre

3 p.m. Sporting Central Academy vs. Montego Bay United FC @ Brancourt

3 p.m. Village United FC vs. Tivoli Gardens FC @ Trelawny Stadium

6:30 p.m. Harbour View FC vs. Waterhouse FC @ Harbour View Stadium

7 p.m. Portmore United FC vs. Boys' Town FC @ Ferdie Neita Park