Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

HARBOUR VIEW's 3-2 victory over Wadadah at Compound on Sunday has set-up a mouth-watering clash this coming weekend when the Wray and Nephew National Premier League leaders face champions Waterhouse in a top-of-the-table clash at Drewsland.

Striker Gregg Taylor scored a brace and won a penalty converted by Loxley Thomas to spur Harbour View from a goal down against the men from Montego Bay, who led 1-0 in the 51st minute of a second-half packed with five goals.

The Harbour View hero netted his first goal in the 56th minute, turning sweetly seven yards out to boot in a chance missed by strike partner Kavin Bryan.

Good give-and-go

Taylor, who had previous stints with Rivoli, Invaders and Arnett Gardens, won Harbour View their second goal when he started a good give-and-go with Bryan on the right side of midfield, racing into Wadadah's box to pick up the return pass, where he was bundled over by defender Lesseps Love, who was already on a first-half yellow card for a foul on the speedy forward and was duly ejected.

Thomas confidently fired in the resultant penalty kick in the 67th minute and Taylor killed all hopes Wadadah harboured when he easily turned in Bryan's left side square at the far post, arriving unmarked behind the Montego Bay team's defenders in the 76th.

The victory pushed Harbour View to 19 points, one ahead of Waterhouse, who played to a one-all draw with fourth-place Reno at St. Elizabeth Technical, losing the slim lead they held at the start of the afternoon.

GRUDGE MATCH

Come Sunday, it will be a big grudge match and a possible dress rehearsal of the First Round Final set for November 19.

Harbour View are still flinching from the 13-point lead they blew against Waterhouse to lose the Premiership last season and the Drewsland men are intent on not letting the Stars of the East slip away in the standings.

Harbour View always looked more threatening against Wadadah and twice forced goalkeeper Gavine Barrett into making desperate saves in the first half.

However, it was the visitors who led just after the break when defender Gregory Simpson, ignoring shouts of "no" from his teammates, needlessly booted a harmless ball for a corner kick.

Tall central defender Glenworth Benjamin headed on the corner kick, which fell perfectly for midfielder Andre Reid, standing on the edge of Harbour View's six-yard box from where he easily beat Michaud Barrett.

However, a spirited Harbour View came roaring back through Taylor and Bryan, who bothered the visitors all afternoon with his pace and missed at least two chances in either half.

With his team cruising on a 3-1 lead, Harbour View coach Lenny Hyde took his foot off the throttle and pulled out his starting forwards, replacing them with Fabian Taylor and Rafeik Thomas a minute after their third goal.

However, apprehensive fans, who watched Village United pull off a stunning come-from-behind 2-1 victory four days earlier, weren't so confident and were proven right in stoppage time when Christopher Currie's free-kick, which flew straight to Barrett standing on his goalline, was turned in by the 'keeper, spoiling an otherwise flawless night he was enjoying between the sticks.

Harbour View - 3

Gregg Taylor (56th, 76th) , Loxley Thomas (67th pen.)

Wadadah - 2

Andre Reid (51st) , Christopher Currie (90+)