Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
THEY WILL not be meeting today, but the competition is between Waterhouse and Harbour View for the Wray and Nephew National Premier League title in its first year of the true league form for quite a few years.
A full schedule of six games is on today with the Water-house/Wadadah and Harbour View/Constant Spring fixtures taking top billing. On Sunday, Harbour View surrendered a 2-0 lead to Wadadah at Jarrett Park and with it the lead in the competition.
The two points dropped gave Waterhouse breathing space and if they are to stand a chance then Constant Spring, almost certain to be relegated, will have to be put in their place. Coach Donovan Hayles has laid down the law to his players.
TO GO FULL BLAST
"We have to go full blast (today). Nothing less than a win can help us right now. We need the three points for us to take the competition down to the last game which is our intention right now," Hayles said.
The situation, he said, was perfect for his players to demonstrate their mettle.
"They know what we are up against. Now is the time for them to show what they are made of. If they want to be champions then they will have to perform and there is no better time than now," Hayles said.
With Luton Shelton away and Fabian Taylor injured again, the goalscoring burden will fall on forwards Richard West and Leon Strickland who started on Sunday. Lovel Palmer has popped up with vital goals from time to time and he too will be counted upon.
Like Harbour View, Water-house will be playing at home and their task will be no easier than their fellow title contenders. While Harbour View were cursing their luck on the weekend, Waterhouse were thanking their lucky stars as they came from a 0-2 deficit to defeat Reno 3-2 and with that assume the lead in the competition.
Wadadah are a team that Waterhouse are expected to beat, but the burden of expectations could prove tricky for them, especially playing in front of their demanding fans.
"Playing at home is not necessarily a plus. The players have come under a lot of pressure from spectators who expect them to be perfect all the time, so playing at home is both a plus and minus," said Waterhouse coach Wayne Fairclough.
Whatever the circumstances, Fairclough said that his intention was for his team to continue to play the way it has been since he took over and that is play attacking football while being defensively sound.
His only problem is that Waterhouse have been conceding too many goals.
Demar Phillips proved an inspiration when he entered the field against Reno on Sunday and he is expected to play a similar role today along with Vincent Earle and Weston Forrest. Kevin Lamey, the competition?s leading scorer, has been on the same mark for a while and should be eager to change that. He rarely disappoints in front of the home fans.
As distant as it seems, Wadadah must desires of getting into the top eight and will not make life easy for Waterhouse. If a draw or a win is to be a reality for the Montego Bay-based team, then the usual suspects, Daniel Ricketts, Jermaine Anderson, Rohan Reid and Christopher Currie will have to be outstanding.
In other games, the overachieving Boys? Town could continue to do so and surprise Portmore at Ferdie Neita Park while Tivoli Gardens should be too strong for Seba. Arnett Gardens should have the edge over Reno at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
TODAY'S GAMES
Portmore vs Boys' Town at Ferdie Neita Park - 3:30 p.m.
Tivoli Gardens vs Seba United at Edward Seaga Stadium - 4:30 p.m.
Arnett Gardens vs Reno at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex - 5:00 p.m.
Waterhouse vs Wadadah at Waterhouse Stadium - 6:00 p.m.
Harbour View vs Constant Spring at Harbour View Mini Stadium - 7:00 p.m.
Village vs Rivoli at Elleston Wakeland Centre - 3:30 p.m.
