Lamey ... a key to Waterhouse's chances of advancing to the second end-of-round final.Nodley WrightFreelance Writer
TODAY'S FINAL set of games in the second round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League will have most meaning to two teams.
Losing finalists in the end-of first-round final, Waterhouse, and Tivoli Gardens are in a fight to join the already-qualified Portmore United in this round's final.
Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens are on 21 points with identical goal differences of five. However, Waterhouse are in a better position having scored 16 goals and conceding 11 to Tivoli Gardens' 13 and eight.
In today's games Tivoli Gardens will play away to Reno who are very difficult to beat at home. Waterhouse were among those to suffer at Frome. Waterhouse play away to an improved Constant Spring but should have too much fire power for them.
GOAL DIFFERENCES
If Tivoli Gardens are to advance, they will have to win and hope that Waterhouse draw or if both teams win then Tivoli Gardens will have to outscore Waterhouse by four goals providing the goal differences remain the same. Such a task is not beyond Tivoli Gardens as they have the players in Fabian Davis, Christopher Nicholas and Roland Dean to do it.
Waterhouse, on the other hand, have shown the most character this round, winning tough assignments against Portmore (away) and Arnett Gardens coming from behind and with key players missing. With such a background to this round it will be very difficult to see them falling or even drawing with Constant Spring, Walter Boyd and all. Kevin Lamey, Irvino English, Richard West, Richard McCallum and Weston Forrest will ensure that that does not happen.
While some eyes will be focussed on the points battle between Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse, the Portmore United/Arnett Gardens will provide the most excitement.
Despite the fact that they are already in the end of round final, Portmore's Paul Young will be pushing his charges for a victory.
"Right now we are trying to regain our rhythm," Young said. "We are going for three points but a draw would not be a bad result either and yes we are in the end of round final but we will not be
holding back. We will be playing our strongest team," he said.
That means that only Christopher Dawes will be absent as he will be attending the funeral of his brother.
Portmore should not suffer too much because of Dawes' absence as Anthony Modeste should provide that stabilising force in midfield allowing the likes of the back-in-action Wolry Wolfe and Damion Williams to run at the Arnett defence.
Defensively, Portmore United are solid with goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers still the best local custodian. Sawyers will be protected by his brother Tyrone, Demar Stewart, Ricardo Smith and company. Up front the duo of Roen Nelson and Kevin Deerr need no introduction.
Arnett Gardens, despite being out of contention for an end-of-round final berth, have one of the deepest squads in the competition and a goalkeeper in Julian McLeish who is not far behind Sawyers. Arnett Gardens know they are a better team than their current standing reflects and today could be the day to make that statement.
"This game means a lot to us. The team has been on 37 points for quite some time. We just want to break the 30 barrier," said coach Jerome Waite of today's encounter.
RECENT HISTORY
Waite is very much aware of what his team will be up against today, but is counting on recent history.
"Portmore are the form team of the round. In the first round they were doing good too and we were the only team to defeat them," he said.
Arnett Gardens' performance in their last game against Waterhouse does not inspire confidence but Waite knows what the problem is and intends to address it.
"In our last game the team did not perform on that day. Defensively we did not do well but as a team we will do better (today)," he said confidently.
If victory is to be achieved then Arnett Gardens will have to do without Everton Bunsie who is out on suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Bunsie's absence could be cushioned by the return to fitness of Cornel Chin-Sue and there is also Patrick Graham, Daniel Shaw, Winston Griffiths, Garth Boota, Keith Kelly and Jonothan Williams to choose from.
Kevin Wilson, Kwame Richard-son, Patrick Beech and Leon Strickland are no slackers in attack.
SECOND ROUND STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | T/P |
| Portmore | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 4 | +15 | 25 | 45 |
| Waterhouse | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 21 | 45 |
| Tivoli | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 21 | 44 |
| Arnett | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 17 | 37 |
| H View | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 15 | 41 |
| C Spring | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 20 |
| Wadadah | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 13 | 20 |
| Village | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 11 | 25 |
| Rivoli | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 10 | 22 |
| Arlington | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 9 | 16 |
| Reno | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 8 | 18 |
| Invaders | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 5 | 12 |
TODAY'S GAMES
Reno vs Tivoli Gardens at Frome (3:30 p.m.);Harbour View vs Wadadah at Harbour View;Rivoli vs Invaders at Prison Oval (3:30 p.m.);Village vs Arlington at Elliston Wakeland Centre (3:30 p.m.);Constant Spring vs Waterhouse at Constant Spring (3:30 p.m.);Arnett Gardens vs Portmore at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex (4:30 p.m.)
