Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
AFTER ENDING the 100 per cent win record of pacesetters Harbour View, Portmore United will be aiming to break up another run today in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League. Today's target is Boys' Town's unbeaten record.
On the surface, Boys' Town's record of one win and five draws does not say much, but add that to the fact that they have not lost an NPL match at home since their return last year, and the record seems more significant, and Portmore's coach Paul Young is aware of it.
"They have not lost a game down there in regulation time since they have been back in the league. With that being the situation, it will be tough, but we will fight hard and with our quality we should get the job done," Young said.
"If we outwork and outthink them, then we should achieve our objective," he further stated.
Portmore United will have to achieve that task without two of their tougher players, Sheldon Battiste and Garth Boota, who were ejected in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Harbour View.
In the Grenadian veteran Anthony Modeste, goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, midfielders Carlington Smith and Jason Morrison as well as forwards Kevin Deerr and Rafei Wolfe, Young believes that he has the right blend of toughness and finesse to get the job done.
Whatever Portmore takes to Collie Smith Drive, Boys' Town coach Andrew Price is confident that his team's record will stay intact or even improve.
"One thing I can say about this team is that we do not like to lose. What we have to do now is to turn that into victories. It is all well and good not to lose, but we have to pick up extra points, especially at home, and that is our plan against Portmore United," the confident Price said.
What Price said has been missing from his team is the consistency in the goalscoring and the dependence on George Vernal and Michael Campbell to provide them with the ammunition. Today, he said, he will be looking for others to step up and for the likes of Oneil Thompson to take his experience from the national programme and drive the team forward in tandem with Fabian Watkins.
Tight defence
Despite the absence of Xavian Virgo, who is serving the second of a two-game suspension, Price expects his team to maintain a tight defence.
"Virgo will be serving the second of a two-game suspension. Other than that, despite one or two injuries, we should have a full squad to choose from and they will do the trick for us.
"We respect them, but we will take the game to them. Our objective is to get maximum points," Price said.
In other games, Tivoli Gardens will be hoping to have a turnaround in form against promoted August Town. Despite August Town's superior record and position, a loss for Tivoli could see coach Calvert Fitzgerald searching for a new job.
Seba United stopped the rot with a 2-1 win over Tivoli Gardens on Sunday and will be aiming to win two in a row when they play away to Naggo Head. Naggo Head is not a bad team and if the likes of Walter Boyd, Kirk Ramsay and Layton Barrett, providing he is fit again, can click with the younger players, they could cause a few upsets, beginning today.
The Arnett Gardens/Reno clash could go either way. The Westmoreland team has quietly assembled a competitive side and the fact that it is in third place is no accident.
Arnett Gardens have been improving since the dismissal of seven dissidents. Their loss to defending champions Waterhouse on Sunday was no disgrace and the fact that they are playing at home should be in their favour.
Leaders Harbour View should return to their winning ways against Village United who will sink deeper into the relegation zone while Wadadah will have a tough task containing Waterhouse.
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Harbour View | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| Waterhouse | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| Reno | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 10 |
| Wadadah | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
| Boys' Town | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 8 |
| August Town | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 8 |
| Portmore | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Arnett Gardens | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 7 |
| Seba | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 6 |
| Tivoli | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 5 |
| Village | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 5 |
| Naggo Head | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 2 |
TODAY'S GAMES:
Boys' Town vs Portmore United at Collie Smith - 3:30 p.m.
Tivoli Gardens vs August Town at Edward Seaga Stadium - 3:30 p.m.
Naggo Head vs Seba United at Prison Oval - 5:00 p.m.
Arnett Gardens vs Reno at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex - 5:00 p.m.
Harbour View vs Village United at Harbour View - 7:00 p.m.
Wadadah vs Waterhouse at Jarrett Park - 6:00 p.m.
