Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

AFTER THE rescue act by Weston Forrest in time added on in controversial circumstances last week, defending champions Waterhouse will once again put their unbeaten record on the line when they host the improving Arnett Gardens in week six of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League today.

For assistant coach Andrew Williams, the memories of the Village game are too fresh in his mind and his team, he said, will be going all out to avoid a repeat.

"In our last game against Village United, we left it late but against Arnett Gardens we are trying our best not to let that happen. We will be aiming to put away our chances and do so early," said Williams.

"We are really motivated for this game. We are playing Arnett Gardens and we could not ask for any bigger motivation. We are also playing at home and we have our home record to protect, where we have not conceded a goal all season. We have that to protect," he said.

Without top marksman

Like last week, Waterhouse may take the field without their top marksman, Kevin Lamey.

According to Williams, Lamey is in a squad of 20, but it is still unclear whether he will figure as there are still some internal matters to sort out with the club.

Without Lamey, the partnership of Bryan Wollaston and the lively Roberto Fletcher will be counted on for the goals with back-up coming from the likes of Forrest and a hopefully rejuvenated Vincent Earle.

President of Arnett Gardens, Patrick Roberts, is expecting the usual tough game against their rivals with whom they have close ties.

"Playing against Waterhouse is always a tough encounter for a number of reasons. To begin with, I am the president of Arnett Gardens and I am very much involved in the Waterhouse community because of politics. There is also the situation where one of the Bicknell brothers from Tankweld is the vice-chairman at Arnett Gardens and the other is the vice-chairman at Waterhouse, so both clubs have close ties," Roberts explained.

"Of the match itself, our aim will be to win. Both teams would want to win for bragging rights, but if we cannot win then we will be satisfied with a point," he said. Following the dismissal of seven players, Arnett Gardens have enjoyed a run of successive wins and Roberts believes the team is getting to where he wants it to be.

"The team is upbeat and the family bond is coming back.

Right blend

Additionally, we have the right blend of youth and experience with players like Kevin Wilson, Jonathan Williams and Julian McLeish combining well with Marcelino Blackburn and Leon Strickland, who both returned from Harbour View at the beginning of the season," he said.

The struggling Seba United will entertain Tivoli Gardens at Jarrett Park in a game they need to win to stop the rot. Already they have lost four games in a row after winning their first. Another loss will have the Seba faithful asking some serious questions.

Tivoli Gardens on the other hand are not faring much better after winning just once and drawing twice for a total of five points, two more than Seba United, and two places above them in ninth place, and they too are in danger of falling out of the race.

St Elizabeth will see top-flight football for the first time in close to 30 years when Reno, who played Boys' Town in a similar encounter in the late '70s, host the promoted Naggo Head at STETHS, their home for about two weeks, while repairs are done at the Frome field.

Better-placed

August Town, the better-placed of the two promoted teams, will be aiming to return to their winning ways against Boys' Town, the team which they are trying to emulate this season. Boys' Town sit in third place on seven points, but with a better goal difference than August Town who lie in the middle of the 12-team table.

After a stuttering start, talent-rich Portmore United got their first win of the season last week with a 3-1 victory over Wadadah in a game witnessed by prospective national coach Bora Milutinovic. Having tasted victory, and having scored just one goal in the previous five weeks of activity, their appetite could be whetted for more.

In runaway leaders Harbour View they come up against a team with a 100 per cent win record and one keen not to let the cup slip at the final sip as happened last year. This match also has the ingredients of a grudge match with Portmore resident and former coach of Portmore United, Lenworth Hyde, pulling the strings for Harbour View against Paul Young, his former player and assistant.

Western derby

Elliston Wakeland Centre will be the venue of a western derby between hosts Village United and Wadadah. This is a match either team can ill afford to lose. Wadadah are sitting in eighth position following a two-game losing streak while Village, still cursing their luck and the referee, are two places below and would not want to get caught in the drop zone.

Towering forwards Newton Sterling and Omar Allen have looked lively for Village, but have been unable to find the back of the net with regularity. If Daniel Ricketts turns up inspired and Rohan Reid concentrates for long then Village, despite the heroic defending of Jeff Pearce, could be in trouble.

Today's games

Waterhouse vs Arnett Gardens at Waterhouse Stadium - 6:00 p.m.

Reno vs Naggo Head at STETHS - 3:30 p.m.

Seba United vs Tivoli Gardens at Jarrett Park - 6:00 p.m.

August Town FC vs Boys' Town at UWI - 3:30 p.m.

Portmore United vs Harbour View at Prison Oval - 4:00 p.m.

Village United vs Wadadah at Elliston Wakeland Centre - 3 :30 p.m.