Tivoli goes after Hazard's scalp

Christopher Nicholas

Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

SITTING PRETTY at the top of the table with two sets of games to go before the end of the second round, runaway leaders Tivoli Gardens will today attempt to make it seven wins out of eight games in this round when they host Hazard United at Railway Oval.

This mouth-watering matchup highlights the five games which are on today.

At Harbour View, the team from the east will attempt to cement its place in the end of round final with a win against Constant Spring.

At Constant Spring, two former dominant forces in the league, Waterhouse and Wadadah continue their fight to stave off relegation.

In western Jamaica, defending champions Arnett Gardens go up against strugglers Reno at Frome in a bid to keep their rich form in the west alive and keep their slim hopes of reaching the end of round final alive just in case any of two of the frontrunners slip up.

Duhaney Park are relegation certainties and a win for them against Village would put their fellow promoted teams in danger of getting dropped with them. A win for Village would push them closer to a position of safety.

Tivoli Gardens, with the hottest striking trio in the league, are already in the final as even if they lose their two remaining matches it would be very difficult for two teams to get a better goal difference than the one Tivoli enjoy at the moment.

Their opponents Hazard were pipped at the wire in the last round by eventual winners Arnett Gardens and had a crucial loss to Constant Spring last week.

Despite the favourable position they are in, Tivoli coach Geoffrey 'Dave' Clarke has no tolerance for complacency. "My main job is to keep the players fully focussed in ensuring that over confidence or complacency don't take control of the players," said Clarke.

"Before the start of the second round, we had an objective to win all nine games. To this point we bucked our toes only once but the situation and objective is still relevant so we have to go for Hazard and Arnett, and in addition to that, the three points that come with winning the end of round final. So in essence we're looking at nine points to ensure that we're in the top four or even being number one," he added.

Even with his superior firepower of Christopher Nicholas, Dwayne Richards with eight goals each and Roland Dean with five along with Steve Green and Andrew Chisholm, Clarke recognises the fact that Hazard will be no pushovers.

"Hazard are one of the teams that I have a lot of respect for. When you look at the stats, they are second when it comes to meanness, giving away goals. On the other side, goals for, in comparison to our record we are superior to them. So on the basis of the stats, we've scored most goals, 29, they have given up the second lowest number of goals, 13, to Arnett's 12 ... that makes the best attacking team going against almost the best defensive team," he said.

For Hazard United coach Lenworth Hyde only one thing will be on the minds of his players.

"We have to go there for the three points, that's our aim. We have a chance of reaching the end of round final. We have two games left so we have to try to win the next two games," said Hyde still ruing last Sunday's loss to Constant Spring," Hyde said.

TODAY'S GAMES