Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterWESTERN JAMAICA will once again be the centre of attention in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League. Due to the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association's (KSAFA) Jackie Bell Knockout final between Waterhouse and Boys' Town, no NPL matches will be played in Kingston and St Andrew.
As a result of that, only two matches are on and both will be in western Jamaica. In one game, 10th-placed Reno will host eighth-placed Seba United at Frome, while in the second fixture, 12th-placed Rivoli travel to Jarrett Park to take on Wadadah who are in ninth position.
TOUGH CONTESTS
Contests between Reno and Seba have always been tough. The last time the teams met things were not different, as the referee was forced to call off the game which resulted in Seba being granted a win by a 3-0 margin.
For much of the first two rounds Seba United hovered close to the relegation zone, but began climbing their way from that end of the table once Wilfred Smith got fit and Heron Grey took over the coaching.
Reno on the other hand have not really looked convincing all season but have always looked competitive at their home ground. With Kendri Quarrie one of the most senior players in the squad, they have managed to mould themselves into a competitive unit led by Keneil Moodie and backed up by a number of schoolboys such as Josimar Crooks and Dwayne Williams.
At Jarrett Park, Wadadah are expected to have the advantage.
All season they have done reasonably well at home and in their last NPL fixture at that venue they stopped then title contenders Village United 3-2 before falling to defending champions Portmore United 4-3 in a shoot-out.
As far as Rivoli's coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, is concerned those are just statistics.
"Against Seba United, the plan was to get a point away from home and then get three points from Reno at home. We did not get the three points from Reno so we will have to get the three points from Wadadah away from home," said Fitzgerald whose charges are sitting at the bottom of the table and who have drawn their two matches so far in this third round.
Rivoli were expected to be like lambs to the slaughter since the departure of top player Garfield Reid, but they have shown a lot of character. Patrick Beech has returned to the club and, in combination with Kemar Mills, has brought back an enthusiasm to the aggregation.
They will need more than enthusiasm to stop Wadadah at their home ground however. They have always been dangerous at home especially with Daniel Ricketts directing things in the middle.
The allrounder, Rohan Reid, has been an able assistant and the addition of Markeino Gillings has given them more firepower. Already, he has hit the back of the net twice in his two game of the round.
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Harbour View | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 41 | 18 | 23 | 54 |
| Waterhouse | 24 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 25 | 17 | 49 |
| Portmore | 24 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 34 | 23 | 11 | 38 |
| Tivoli Gardens | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 30 | 12 | 38 |
| Village United | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 39 | 32 | 7 | 35 |
| Arnett Gardens | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 34 | -3 | 31 |
| Boys' Town | 24 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 | 25 | -1 | 31 |
| Seba United | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 30 | 33 | -3 | 29 |
| Wadadah | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 41 | -14 | 24 |
| Reno | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 22 | -5 | 23 |
| Constant Spring | 24 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 37 | -19 | 17 |
| Rivoli United | 24 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 40 | -22 | 17 |
TODAY'S GAMES
Wadadah vs Rivoli at Jarrett Park 5:00 p.m.
Reno vs Seba at Frome 3:00 p.m.
