Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

Portmore United's Onandi Lowe and Harbour View's Fabian Taylor. - file

A shoot-out should be expected at Harbour View this afternoon when they host Portmore United in the hottest game of the six on today on a day when there is a full schedule in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.

This game features two teams within reach of leaders Waterhouse and with a serious eye on the title. Of the two, Harbour View are in a better position but Portmore could be slightly ahead in terms of the talent pool.

"This one is a very, very important one. It is one of the toughest games in the league. We are two points behind the leaders and at this time, we cannot afford to drop points. We need the three points," was how Harbour View coach Lenworth Hyde looked at the game.

tough team

Portmore United, he conceded, are a tough team and in order for Harbour View to win, they will have to do much better than they did against August Town in their last game.

"We have to step up when we play the big teams. At UWI when we played August Town, it was quite windy, which made it difficult for us to play the type of football that we play, but the conditions should be much better for this game.

"Against Portmore United we will aim to keep possession of the ball and play our game. If we allow them to play. They can be dangerous, they are a good team. They have Onandi Lowe who is a good strong forward and one we have to mark closely." Hyde explained.

Portmore United's Paul Young expressed the view that nothing short of a workmanlike performance would give them a good result.

chances

"It will be a tough game and we know we will have to take a workmanlike performance to Harbour View. We cannot afford to let them play their game. We have to take charge of the midfield and if we do that and convert our chances, we should be able to take care of that," Young said of the game to come.

"We normally play well at Harbour View, so if we continue in that mode then we should be okay. Even with saying that though, this game will not be a walkover," added Young.

With the refocused Lowe, Kevin Deerr, Jason Morrison and Carlington Smith, Portmore United have the ability to break down the Harbour View defence, which has not been the best this season. Christopher Harvey was expected to add some steel to that area of the team but a red card against August Town has ruled him out. But while Harvey is out, his cousin Robert Scarlett could play his first NPL game of the season for the club.

"We got Harvey who strengthened our defence but he got a red card against August Town so he is unavailable. The whole team has to help with the defending," said Hyde.

In Fabian Taylor, Gregg Taylor, Kavin Bryan and Kemar Petrekin, few teams have a better offensive line-up and Hyde believes this strength could help them prevail.

strength

"Goalscoring has been our strength and once we make use of the chances that we will create, then we should be all right," he concluded.

Following their 0-1 loss to Village United on Sunday last, leaders and defending champions Waterhouse will find their slim two-point lead under further threat when they travel away to Arnett Gardens. A loss for them and a win for Harbour View over Portmore United could see them lose the lead.

Reno Football Club of Westmoreland, another club with designs on the league, are set to strengthen their position with an expected win over relegation certainties Naggo Head when the two meet at Ferdie Neita Park. Sitting in third place on 28 points, to Waterhouse's 33, and a game in hand against Boys' Town to be played at a neutral venue, Reno could take advantage of any slip-ups by the top two.

Eighth-place Boys' Town will play the first of their two enforced away games at Barbican against August Town. A tough game should be expected as, despite being in the relegation zone, August Town still have a chance of avoiding relegation and are not about to surrender. Boys' Town on the other hand, are known for their fighting spirit and perceiving that they have been done wrong by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Disciplinary Committee, they will be even more motivated to win.

At the Edward Seaga Stadium, Tivoli Gardens will seek to rebound from their loss to Reno with a win over Seba United under the guidance of new coach Danilo Barriga. Even with the magician Theodore Whitmore orchestrating things from the midfield, a win for Seba appears farfetched.