Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Onandi Lowe ... has been in sparkling form for Portmore lately. - File

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Tivoli Gardens tackle Portmore United while Boys' Town play August Town in the semi-finals of the All-island Red Stripe Champions Cup at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium today.

In what is expected to be a fun-filled evening for the fans, the Boys' Town-August Town encounter will kick start proceedings at 5:00 p.m. before Tivoli Gardens face Portmore at 7:00 p.m.

The curtain-raiser between Boys' Town and August Town can go either way, with August Town having a slight edge. The last time the teams played, August Town emerged 2-1 winners in a Premier League encounter.

August Town are on a nice little run, winning their last three games to be seventh in the Premier League. In three outings to date against Boys' Town they have won two and drawn the other. With that form, they should be confident of advancing to the final.

The Hugh MaCarthy-coached August Town in their run to the semis have knocked off Reno and Village United. Against Reno they ended 2-2 on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0 at home before losing 2-1 in the second leg to advance on the away goal rule.

August Town will be looking to Daniel Shaw, Tremaine Stewart, Gary Brooks, Ziecko Herrera, Tafari O'Connor, Aphas Bernard and Devon Haughton to secure victory.

The Andrew Price-coached Boys' Town eliminated Naggo Head and Waterhouse and could do the same against August Town. The hard-working George Vernal, Denzil Watson, Michael Campbell, Marvin Morgan, Garfield Gillespie and Peter Keyes will prove hard to deny for the Red Brigade.

In the feature encounter, Tivoli Gardens will have their hands full containing the dangerous Portmore United.

Arch rivals

Tivoli have shown the most impressive form, brushing aside arch rivals Arnett Gardens 4-0 on aggregate before dispatching the red-hot Harbour View 4-1 on aggregate.

Captain Fabian Davis, Kasai Hinds, Roland Dean, Oraine Simpson, Steve Green, Denroy Gordon, Christopher Jackson, Dwight Heron and Jermaine Taylor will have to work overtime to contain the Portmore aggregation.

Portmore have been cruising through the tournament, thrashing Duhaney Park and Wadadah 6-1 and 5-1 on aggregate.

Portmore's towering striker, Onandi Lowe, has been showing tremendous form in this competition and scored a hat-trick against Wadadah and will prove hard to contain.

Lowe should be ably supported by Mario Sawby, Wolry Wolfe, Adrian Reid, Jason Morrison and Anthony Modeste and will prove hard to beat.

Red Stripe will provide added entertainment this evening with the likes of dance hall duo Leftside and Esco alongside the comedic duo of Ity and Fancy Cat.