Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Vincent Earle ... a key figure for Waterhouse today against Tivoli Gardens. - File
TIVOLI GARDENS and Waterhouse take the spotlight today in the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) when they meet at the Edward Seaga Stadium on a day when only four matches will be played.
Portmore United and Harbour View are still away participating in the Caribbean Club Champion-ships, which means that games involving themselves, Boys' Town and Seba have been postponed.
In previous seasons, this match would have been a must-see for football patrons as both played a good brand of football.
This season at least one of them is a shadow of its former self while the other is playing well below expectations. If only for their name and history, they should generate enough interest to bring out some spectators. As far as Felix Porter of Waterhouse is concerned, it will be a tough game as usual. The only difference now is that neither team is playing well.
"How I look at this game is like two wounded lions facing each other and with that being the case, they could be dangerous," Porter said.
"A game between these teams is always difficult to call, but I will be happy for three points," added Porter, who will be relying on the likes of Brian Wollaston, Weston Forrest, Vincent Earle, Damion Williams and Jonothan Williams to give Waterhouse the advantage.
Waterhouse will be without sharpshooter Jomo Gordon, who is still injured, and Marco McDonald, who has another match to serve in his two-game suspension.
For Tivoli Gardens' Brian Rose, anything better than a similar result to Sunday will be good. Then they lost 2-0 to newcomers Sporting Central.
"The mood is not so great right now, especially after that loss on Sunday, but we had a training session this morning (yesterday) and hopefully something good will come of it," Rose said.
Tivoli Gardens will be hamstrung by the the absence through injury of a number of their key players such as Steve Green, Roland Dean and Richard West. Orraine Simpson will also be missing as he is serving a suspension.
At Lynch Park, the battle of the promoted teams will take place. Sporting Central, the better placed of the two teams, have looked more like the promoted team to survive in this league and in Oneke Ford they have found a good goalscorer.
Decent goalscorer
St. Georges also have a decent goalscorer in Damion Harwood, and if he gets going he could cause some problems for the Sporting Central defence.
At Elliston Wakeland Centre, Village United will continue their hunt for their first victory of the season. Having secured a crucial away point on Sunday against Arnett Gardens, Village United should fancy their chances against a Reno team which has struggled all season.
Reno only managed to get their first win of the season against St. Georges on Sunday and were involved in a high-scoring loss to Sporting Central earlier in the season.
The August Town/Arnett Gardens clash at the UWI field could go either way, but the more seasoned Arnett Gardens should get the edge based on the fact that they have a better strike force.
TODAY'S GAMES
Tivoli Gardens vs Waterhouse
Venue: Edward Seaga Stadium
Time: 3:30 p.m.
St. Georges vs Sporting Central Academy
Venue: Lynch Park
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Village United vs Reno FC
Venue: Elliston Wakeland Centre
Time: 3:00 p.m.
August Town vs Arnett Gardens
Venue: UWI
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
Seba | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 13 |
Harbour View | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
Portmore Utd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
Boys' Town | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
Waterhouse | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
Sporting Cent. | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 9 |
Tivoli Gardens | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 9 |
St. Georges | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
August Town | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 |
Arnett Gdns | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
Reno | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
Village Utd | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 2
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