Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterWITH RUNAWAY Wray and Nephew National Premier League leaders Harbour View sitting pretty and out today, the race for second will continue with five games on the fourth match day of the second round.
Harbour View, a full 13 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Portmore United, cannot be caught any time soon. Portmore United who occupy second position with 26 points and like Harbour View have completed today's fixture in a game brought forward could be surpassed by Waterhouse.
Waterhouse (25 points) will challenge home team Wadadah in the second game of the Jarrett Park NPL doubleheader - two Under-21 games will take place at 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. before Seba/Village United start the Premier League ball rolling.
Based on the form of both teams Waterhouse should win, but the Wadadah camp has indicated it will not go down without a fight.
"It will be a tough game but we are hoping to come away with a good result which means getting at least a point," said an official of the club who filled in for suspended coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams.
"For the three games in this round so far, two away and one at home, we have not accumulated any points, but we intend to turn it around," the official continued with the 4-0 loss to Tivoli Gardens fresh in his mind.
That loss, he said, was due mainly to defensive mistakes in the first half as the players were unable to receive instructions from the coach. The coach, he said, raised his voice a few decibels from distance and managed to rally his troops who refused to concede another goal.
TEAM LEFT SHORT
On the offensive front, the absence to injury of captain and penetrative midfielder Daniel Ricketts left the team short.
"He (Ricketts) trained this week and is still having trouble, but 20 or 25 minutes from him would be good. With that and the determination of the other players we could give a good account," the official concluded.
As far as Waterhouse executive Donovan Whyte is concerned it will take more than a patched up Ricketts, Jermaine Anderson, Zico Herrera, Rohan Reid and Socrates Christie to stop his team. Whyte, who was filling in the 'unavailable' coach Calvert Fitzgerald, said his team will be ready for anything.
"Any of the 12 teams in the league could show superlative form on any given day, so we are preparing for Wadadah's best game and to win however good they play," said the man who has a background in advertising and promotion.
Just last week Waterhouse took care of Wadadah's neighbours, Seba United, 4-0. That win however, was in Kingston, but this game will be in Wadadah's backyard. Additionally, Waterhouse will be losing to suspension one of their form players, Irvino English, who has scored three goals in their past two games.
"We have a good quality squad with able replacements for anyone who is not available," said the confident Whyte, who added that defender Craig White returns to the team today.
Without English, the Waterhouse inspiration should come from the youthful midfield which could include Demar Phillips, Vincent Earle and Weston Forrest. Up front Jomo Gordon should supply the finishing touch while the veteran Kevin Lamey and Shane Edwards are ready to report from the bench.
In the 5:00 p.m. opener which features teams going in different directions, fourth-placed Village United should be fancied to get the better of 11th-placed Seba United. With 24 points Village United are also in with a great chance of pulling closer to Harbour View.
A win would see them leapfrog Portmore United while a draw or loss for Waterhouse would see them overtaken by the Trelawny team.
Seba United have shown fight all season but coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis will still not be on the bench as he appears to have earned an extension on his "two-week medical break".
Heron Grey has been filling in for Davis and could be optimistic about his team's chances, having held Village 2-2 in the first round in Trelawny.
Village's last loss was to Wadadah at this venue. Attackers Sean Bucknor, Kemar James and Wilfred Smith could be troublesome on their day so Village cannot take them lightly despite their lowly position.
On the other hand, Village are at full strength with the team appearing to be more balanced as they are becoming less reliant on Fabian Dawkins for goals. Goalkeeper Allien Whittaker looks to be back to his best and will be hard to beat.
In other games, Reno playing at Frome could stop Boys' Town, while Arnett Gardens, despite their troubles, should also get by Rivoli. Tivoli Gardens' firepower is superior to that of Constant Spring and should collect them another win.
TODAY'S GAMES
Wadadah vs Waterhouse at Jarrett Park - 7:00 p.m.Constant Spring vs Tivoli Gardens at The Spring Complex - 3:00 p.m.Reno vs Boys' Town at Frome - 3:00 p.m.Arnett Gardens vs Rivoli at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex - 3:00 p.m.Seba vs Village at Jarrett Park - 5:00 p.m.STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| H View | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 7 | 19 | 39 |
| Portmore | 15 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 26 |
| W'house | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 25 |
| Village | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 24 |
| Tivoli | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 22 |
| Arnett | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 21 |
| Reno | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 16 |
| Boys' Town | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 16 |
| Wadadah | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 23 | -13 | 12 |
| Rivoli | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 23 | -12 | 12 |
| Seba | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 10 |
| C Spring | 14 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 22 | -13 | 6 |
