Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

LEADERS AND title favourites Portmore United will seek to consolidate their position at the top of the Cash Plus Premier League when they play away to defending champions Harbour View at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium. That game will be at 6:30 p.m., the last of six on a day with a full schedule of matches.

After inching past Tivoli Gardens, the team with which they shared the lead, on Thursday, Portmore coach Linval Dixon made it clear that the objective of his charges was to consolidate their position. He praised his side for its performance in a game which it was slightly fortunate to draw.

"We have put our nose in front so what we need to do now is to consolidate," Dixon said at the end of the Village game.

"It was good result to get a point on the road and especially in these conditions which are not ideal for our style of play," he said, making reference to the windy conditions which affected his team's passing game as well as the difficult underfoot conditions.

Though the Harbour View game is not being played on their home ground, the surroundings have been kind enough to Portmore. In their first-round encounter, which was played at the same ground, the visitors won.

Still with a chance

Harbour View for their part, despite the gap between them, will not be conceding anything to the leaders. According to coach Lenworth Hyde, they are still in with a chance and that chance would be enhanced by a win. "We have a pretty good chance. We have been playing well," said Hyde whose team only last week defeated Waterhouse without Fabian Taylor, their top striker who has headed to Norway on a year-long loan.

"What is pleasing is that we are attacking well and creating chances. We know Portmore with all their qualities will be much tougher opponents, but we are confident. What we need to do now is to go on a winning streak and see what happens from there," added Hyde.

In Rafique Thomas, Harbour View are seeing a goalscorer emerge in almost the same way Kavin Bryan did last year and can also count on Waheem Walker, Marcelino Blackburn off the bench and Bryan himself to get goals. With leading scorer Roen Nelson, Anthony Bennett, Steven Morrisey and Kevin Deerr to count on, Portmore will be difficult to outgun.

The battle could be won in midfield where the likes of Rudolph Austin, Ricardo Cousins and Eric Vernon of Portmore United will come up against Jermaine Hue, Richard Edwards and Donald Stewart.

Arnett tackle seba

In other games, Arnett Gardens will hope to get the better of Seba United at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex in a game of falling giants. Arnett Gardens find themselves in the more desperate position as anything but a win could see them fall into the relegation zone.

Reno take on August Town in a crab-in-a-barrel affair where one club will have to keep the other down to improve its chance of survival, while Sporting Central and Village United, separated only by goal difference, would want to get the better of each other to hold on to a precious sixth position in the table. Waterhouse, despite their slump in form should get the better of St Georges while the Boys' Town-Tivoli Gardens encounter could go either way.

TODAY'S GAMES

3:30 p.m. - Arnett Gardens vs Seba at Anthony Spaulding Complex3:30 p.m. - Sporting Central vs Village United at Brancourt

3:30 p.m. - Reno vs August Town at STETHS6:00 p.m. - Waterhouse vs St Georges at Drewsland Stadium

5:00 p.m. - Tivoli Gardens vs Boys' Town at Edward Seaga Complex|6:30 p.m. - Harbour View vs Portmore United at Harbour View Mini-Stadium