Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

HAVING DROPPED four points in their past two games, championship hopefuls Reno of Westmoreland will try to change their fortunes when they meet fifth-place Tivoli Gardens at 3:30 p.m. today in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League at STETHS.

A win will see them closing the gap on leaders Harbour View whose game has been postponed due to the number of their players on national duty. They were scheduled to play second-place Portmore United.

After an impressive second round which culminated with a win in the end-of-second-round-final had made a number of people believe coach Wendell Downswell's prediction that with support they could take the title, Reno's form has been indifferent, but assistant coach Aaron Lawrence is looking for better today.

"I think you will see a different- looking Reno because we have given away two games we had to win and those are crucial points which would have had us closer to the leader," said Lawrence, himself a former Reno representative.

"Each game now will be like a final for us so we just have to take that mentality into the game and we are confident that we will bounce back," he said.

If Reno are to turn their form around, they will have to do so without the services of national representatives Nicholi Findlayson and Mario Harrison as well as suspended captain Everton Palmer. Lawrence, however, is convinced that there is enough quality to make up for their absences.

Coach optimistic

Like Reno, Tivoli Gardens have dropped four points in their past two games but coach Calvert Fitzgerald remains optimistic about a positive result.

"We are hoping to put out a top performance. We put some work in and we are trying to get back that intensity which was lacking on Sunday. We are trying to win as many games as possible in this round so we will be approaching it in that fashion," Fitzgerald said.

Talismanic midfielder Fabian Davis will be absent owing to a national recall and will be joined on national duty by young forward Horace Howell. Fitzgerald is not particularly concerned about their absence as, according to him, "We have adequate replacements."

Among those Fitzgerald will be looking to give his team the advantage are Christopher Nicholas and Roland Dean, both of whom were second-half substitutes against Harbour View on Sunday last. The duo, he said, will feature much earlier today along with Lenworth Hyde Jr., Christopher Jackson, Kasai Hinds and Victor Thompson.

Reno will be looking to goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, Kendrie Quarrie, Fabian Blake, Kirk Wright and Nyron Davis.

In other games, Naggo Head will aim to prove that their win over defending champions Waterhouse on Sunday was no fluke when they take on August Town in the battle of the promoted teams. August Town are just above the relegation zone while Naggo Head, despite showing late signs of life, are firmly rooted at the bottom with 12.

At Catherine Hall, Seba United will host Boys' Town who rallied to earn a late draw against another Montego Bay team, Wadadah, on Sunday. If Boys' Town approach the game similarly, they could find luck deserting them as Seba are a tougher team.

Defending champions Waterhouse will travel away to Elliston Wakeland Centre to meet Village United and anything but a win could see further pressure on coach Barrington Gaynor. The Waterhouse fans are still boiling with anger following Sunday's 'giveaway'. At the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, Wadadah should find the going tough as the wounded 'Junglists' fight to restore lost pride. Forward Leon Strickland scored the winner against Reno on Sunday after a long drought and will be dangerous today.

STANDINGS P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Harbour View 24 16 5 3 47 27 20 53

Portmore 24 12 9 3 31 11 20 45

Reno 24 13 6 5 38 22 14 45

Waterhouse 24 11 9 4 39 20 19 42

Tivoli Gardens 24 8 10 6 29 24 9 34

Arnett Gardens 24 10 3 11 35 32 3 33

Village United 24 7 8 9 17 26 -9 29

Boys? Town 24 6 10 8 26 30 -5 28

August Town 24 7 7 10 23 28 -5 28

Seba United 23 7 4 12 25 40 -15 28

Wadadah 24 4 6 14 22 40 -18 18

Naggo Head 24 3 3 18 16 46 -30 12

Today's games

Naggo Head vs. August Town at Ferdie Neita Park - 3:30 p.m.

Seba vs. Boys' Town at Catherine Hall - 3:30 p.m.

Reno vs. Tivoli Gardens at STETHS - 3:30 p.m.

Village United vs. Waterhouse at Elliston Wakeland Centre - 3:30 p.m. Arnett Gardens vs. Wadadah at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex - 5:00 p.m.