By Paul A. Reid, Senior Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AN INTRIGUING clash looms at Elletson-Wakeland Community Centre today when third-placed Hazard visit fourth-placed Village at 3:00 p.m.
A number of National Premier League teams will be without their national representatives. Arguably Village, who broke their three-game winless streak with a 3-1 beating of a fading Rivoli on Sunday, will be the least affected as second string goalkeeper Elvis Hart has stood in well in the absence of national custodian Donovan Ricketts. Hart came up big on Sunday, saving one of two first half penalties and pulling off a number of good saves, especially early in the game when Rivoli were still competitive.
He will need to be at his best again today to face a Hazard team which has drawn its past three games and is slipping out of contention fast and will be hungry for a win.
Village will be without the exciting young striker Dwayne Cole who was injured in the win over Rivoli and Jermaine Anderson could be called to partner Thomas Grant in the attack.
The Trelawny team missed a number of good chances on Sunday when they appeared in cruise control but cannot afford any slip-ups today against one of the better organised teams in the league.
Fabian Dawkins, Teofore Bennett and Shane Crawford will also feature in the Village attack against Hazard. Sheldon Battiste and Derrick Smith along with goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers will try and hold Village at bay.
At Jarrett Park, Arnett Gardens will be protecting the league's only unbeaten record but need a win over Seba to confirm their place in the end-of-round final.
Seba are seeking to move clear of the relegation zone they have been in all season long and will be hoping to recapture the form that took them to an upset win over their Kingston counterparts in the JNBS Knockout at the same venue last season. Arnett will start favourites however with their strike force that leads the league with 20 goals so far.
