By Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer 
Harbour View striker Jomo Gordon, who clashes with Arnett Gardens defender Jerry Walters during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match recently, will lead the charge against Village today in the 3:00 p.m. clash at Compound. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
WHILE no game in today's full slate of Wray and Nephew National Premier League matches could be described as a possible cracker, they are crucial ones, especially for the top two teams.
Both leaders Harbour View and second-placed Portmore go up against Trelawny opposition and neither would want to drop points.
Portmore United travel to Trelawny to face Invaders, who are locked with four other teams on five points but occupy ninth place due to goal difference. A win for Portmore, who following their midweek win over Harbour are one of two teams yet to taste defeat this season, and a loss or draw for Harbour View will see them take over the top spot with 17 points.
At Harbour View, the leaders would want to return to the winning habit following their 1-2 loss to Portmore.
For coach Donovan Hayles, that defeat is already behind them and it is something that the team cannot do anything about at this point.
ALWAYS PREPARED
"In terms of the mental preparation we have overcome it but the physical and practical part of it will be proven by our performance," Hayles said. "I am a coach who has always prepared for all eventualities. I have always said to my players that when that day comes (when we lose) the thing for us to do would be to get back to our winning ways.
"We cannot do anything about the one that we have already lost but we can do something about the game to come like the one with Village and I am hoping that the mental preparation will pay off," he added.
Like the home team, Village United have focused a lot on their mental preparation this season, especially after going their first three games without a point.
MENTAL WORSKSHOPS
Those losses saw a number of fans deserting them and according to assistant coach Lloyd Williams, the management team held a number of mental worskshops for the players which paid off. They responded with three games unbeaten and won their first game last week to be in eighth place on nine points.
"The team is really on a high at the moment. It is really the aim of the team to win back that crowd support and in order for us to do that we have to have a good result for our home game against Tivoli Gardens," Williams said.
He added: "We are definitely going for a win. A game against Harbour View is always one to look forward to. It brings out the best in a coach and a team because they play tactical football. It is always a thinking game."
If Village are to achieve their wish of a win, they will have to improve defensively, especially on their travels. In their last two road games they ended up drawing 3-3 and 2-2 after leading Constant Spring and Reno 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
SUICIDAL
Such defensive form would be suicidal against a Harbour View attack with the likes of Luton Shelton, Thomas Grant, Jomo Gordon and Nicholas McCreath to choose from.
Harbour View's midfield of Jermaine Hue, Sean Fraser and Lovel Palmer are not goal shy either.
At the opposite end, while Harbour View have conceded seven goals, they have one of the best defensive line-up when all are fit. At the moment they are.
While the Harbour View forwards have been supplying the goals, the only attacking player to find the back of the net more than once for Village so far is Teofore Bennett with two goals. Their leading scorer is defender Preston Bernard with three goals.
In the other games, Tivoli Gardens should increase their point count to 13 when they host Constant Spring at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. Hosts Arlington are not seen as strong enough for Waterhouse, while the Reno/Rivoli game could go either way. In the lone late encounter set for 6:00 p.m. at Jarrett Park, Arnett Gardens are expected to help cement Wadadah's place at the bottom of the table.
TODAY'S GAMES
Tivoli vs Constant Spring at Edward Seaga Sports Complex (3:00 p.m.)
Wadadah vs Arnett Gardens at Jarrett Park (6:00 p.m.)
Invaders vs Portmore at Elliston Wakeland Centre (3:00 p.m.)
Arlington vs Waterhouse at Prison Oval (3:00 p.m.)
Harbour View vs Village United at Harbour View (3:00 p.m.)
Reno vs Rivoli at Frome (3:00 p.m.)
POINT STANDINGS
| Teams | P | W | | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Harbour View | | | | 6 | | 5 | 0 | | 1 | | | 15 | | | 7 | 15 |
| Portmore | 6 | | 4 | 2 | 0 | | 13 | | 3 | 14 |
| Waterhouse | 6 | | 3 | | 2 | | 1 | | | 10 | | | 6 | 11 |
| Tivoli | 6 | | 2 | 4 | 0 | | | 12 | | | 3 | 10 |
| Arnett | 6 | | 3 | 1 | | 2 | | | | 7 | | | 5 | 10 |
| Reno | | 6 | | | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | 6 | | | 6 | 9 |
| Rivoli | | | | | 6 | | | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | | | 9 | | 10 | 5 |
| Village | | | | 6 | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | 9 | | 10 | 5 |
| Invaders | | | 6 | | 1 | 2 | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | 8 | 5 |
| C. Spring | | | | 6 | | 1 | 2 | | 3 | | | | 8 | | 14 | 5 |
| Arlington | | | | 6 | | | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 5 | 13 | 5 |
| Wadadah | 6 | | 0 | 2 | 4 | | | | 5 | | 17 | | 2 |
