Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterTODAY'S SIXTH set of games in the third round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League will feature a number of interesting matches as no position is certain. Not even the relegation positions.
Waterhouse are now within striking distance of former runaway leaders Harbour View, but are not out of the reach of the teams just below them, Tivoli Gardens and Village United.
Harbour View have not looked the best of late and will have to improve their play if they are to get the better of the improving Seba United who have been strong at Jarrett Park, where today's game will be played. Waterhouse would normally be seen as certain winners over Rivoli, but they have lost two crucial matches of late to Boys' Town in the Jackie Bell Knockout final and to Tivoli Gardens in the league. The Tivoli Gardens loss especially, could cost them the title.
Defending champions Portmore United cannot be counted out of a top two finish as they have two games in hand and transfer window acquisition and former national striker Onandi Lowe appears to be finding his feet and getting fit.
Arnett Gardens have not been at their best, especially in this round, and it will be interesting to see in new coach Bradley Stewart can rejuvenate them.
The Reno/Constant Spring encounter could go either way, but Reno rarely lose at Frome.
LOOKING GOOD
Of all the matches scheduled, the one which should offer the most competition is the match-up of fourth-place Village United against third-place Tivoli Gardens. Both teams are looking good in the third round especially Tivoli Gardens who have already beaten the top two sides.
Harbour View they defeated at home while Waterhouse were beaten away so they have been strong both at home and away.
"The situation is that we have to reestablish our respectability close to the top of the table because it appears that all is not lost in terms of title aspirations or the Caribbean club championships," said Village's coach, Dean Weatherly.
"If we are to do that then we have to beat the teams that are ahead of us and keep the teams that are down, down. Tivoli are ahead of us so we will have to beat them," he said.
In order to beat Tivoli Gardens, Village will have to turn around their home form for the third round.
"Playing at home in this round has not been good for us. Our fortunes seem to have turned around 180 degrees. We have been winning on the road and dropping points at home," Weatherly said.
Fate could be on Village's side as Tivoli Gardens could be without their major firepower for today's game.
NOT DOING VERY WELL
"Our season seems to be a case of so it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. We were not doing very well in the early part of the season mainly due to injuries and it seems to be happening again right at the point that we are finding some form," complained Tivoli's coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.
"Jermaine Johnson, one of the key players in our revival, is injured along with Christopher Nicholas and on Tuesday Roland Dean got injured. Fabian Davis may not be able to play either as the physio has stated that there are some fields he should not play on and, as you know, the Village field is not one of the best," he said.
PRIDE
In stating that situation, Bailey was quick to add that while many would throw up their hands based on what was facing his squad, they were not in the business of doing that. Pride, he said, was very important to the team.
"We are playing for pride right now. As former champions we have not really set ourselves a target, but we believe that we should not finish out of the top four, especially as a team that finished second last year," said Bailey, who will be looking to the likes of Steve Green, captain Kasai Hinds, Christopher Jackson, Craig Stewart and Victor Thompson to carry the team.
Village, on the other hand, will be counting on the season's joint leading scorer, Fabian Dawkins, loan signing Eddie Kingston of Liberia, Teofore Bennett, Nicardo Folkes and Jeff Pearce to show them the way to victory.
STANDINGS
| | | P | | W | | D | | L | | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Harbour View | | 26 | 18 | | | 3 | 5 | | 43 | 19 | 24 | 57 |
| Waterhouse | 27 | 15 | | 8 | | 4 | | 45 | 28 | 27 | 53 |
| Tivoli Gardens | | 27 | 14 | | 6 | 8 | | 45 | 31 | 14 | 45 |
| Village United | | 27 | 11 | | 8 | 8 | | 42 | 34 | | 8 | 41 |
| Portmore | 25 | | | 9 | 12 | 4 | 35 | 24 | 11 | 39 |
| Boys' Town | | 27 | | | 9 | 10 | 8 | | 28 | 26 | | 2 | 37 |
| Seba United | 27 | | | 9 | | | 6 | 12 | 35 | 37 | -2 | 33 |
| Arnett Gardens | 27 | 8 | | 8 | 11 | 32 | 38 | -6 | 31 |
| Wadadah | | 27 | | | 7 | | | 7 | 13 | 29 | 44 | -15 | 28 |
| Reno | | 27 | | | 6 | | | 8 | 13 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 26 |
| C. Spring | | 26 | | | 3 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 40 | -20 | 21 |
| Rivoli United | | 27 | | | 2 | 12 | 13 | 20 | 45 | -25 | 18 |
TODAY'S GAMES
Boys' Town vs Wadadah at Collie Smith Drive
3:00 p.m.
Reno vs Constant Spring at Frome - 3:00 p.m.
Seba United vs Harbour View at Jarrett Park
7:00 p.m.
Rivoli vs Waterhouse at Prison Oval 3:00 p.m.
Portmore United vs Arnett Gardens at Ferdie
Neita Park 3:00 p.m.
Village United vs Tivoli Gardens at Elliston
Wakeland Centre 3:00 p.m.
