Hyde JR. left, and Shelton were on target for Tivoli and Harbour View respectively in Sunday's semi-finals.
-File photos
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
TIVOLI GARDENS are extremely confident entering the first leg of their Wray & Nephew National Premier League (NPL) final against Harbour View at the National Stadium today at 5:00 p.m. - and they have every right to be.
The league champs, who finished on top with 67 points and pocketed $1m, are riding a high wave and are looking to match their fortunes of the 1998-99 season, when they defeated Harbour View in the final.
Their 6-2 thrashing of Village in the semi-final on Sunday said volumes for their preparation and the league champs are favoured to win the premiership.
An unlikely hero emerged for Tivoli, Lenworth Hyde Jr., who pulled off a hat-trick performance, displaying great control and pace.
"Any player that scores three goals in a game and going into another (match) the team is going to be wary of him," said Tivoli's manager Brian Rose as he looked ahead to today's game.
Rose said whereas the trouncing of Village was sweet, the team is faced with the task of refocusing for the final.
"We don't want to get too complacent. That game is history and we have to look forward to the two games we have.
"Both teams are evenly contested. The team that turns out more prepared and more focused and ready will get the winner," he said
Darren Virtue, the man who Hyde replaced, picked up a hamstring injury and will miss today's game along with Steve Green who is out on cards.
Roland Dean will join Hyde upfront and Fabian Davis will be the playmaker in midfield.
At the other end of the championship spectrum is Harbour View, which won its first semi-final round in three years by ousting dethroned champs Portmore United.
Coach Donovan Hayles said this is a turning point for his team as they have been beaming with optimism since Sunday.
"The players have been in a very high and upbeat spirit since defeating Portmore in the semi-final. The fact that we had failed in previous years in the semi-final became a bother to them but now that they've overcome that hump I think that they are prepared for a full charge ahead," Hayles said.
Midfielder Jermaine Hue, who is recovering from a groin injury, joined his team in the second-half on Sunday and is expected to start today.
Strikers Luton Shelton and Nicholas McCreath will be pressed "to get goals", according to Hayles, and Clifton Waugh, Christopher Harvey and William Richards will make up the defensive backline.
The Under-21 final between Portmore United and Harbour View will precede the Premiership final at 3:00 p.m. at the same venue.
