Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

LEADERS PORTMORE United will aim to maintain the healthy six-point lead they have over their nearest rivals, Tivoli Gardens, when the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) continues today with the second series of games for the second round.

The end-of-first-round champions continued their good form on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Sporting Central at Brancourt in Clarendon. Today, they take on Waterhouse at the Ferdie Neita Park, their home ground, in a historically tough fixture in one of five scheduled games. Seba and Boys' Town were set to meet at Jarrett Park but that game has been rescheduled to January 16 due to the unavailability of the ground.

Nemesis

Waterhouse have the distinction of being the only team to defeat Portmore United so far this season but, according to Portmore's assistant coach, Christopher Bender, his charges will not change their approach.

"Our approach to this game will be no different from what we have been using in our other games. We will be positive and playing at home, we will try to get a positive result," Bender said.

"We have been winning and with that comes a lot of confidence and that has been showing in the way we have been playing. The flipside of this is that we could become complacent and we have to guard against that, especially for this game as they are the only team to claim three points from us this season," he said.

Waterhouse, after a series of poor results, have improved their performance under the guidance of Wayne Fairclough who recently returned. Since his return, they have won twice and drawn the other game and today's game is his biggest test so far.

"This game is important in our quest for the title. Playing them at their home is a difficult test, but we need to give a good account of ourselves as we need to stay close to them. It is important to get some points there," said Fairclough.

If Waterhouse are to get full points from the game, they will have to do so without the services of goal getter Jomo Gordon, who is still not fully recovered from injury, as well as midfield anchor Vincent Earle. With Gordon out, Brian Wollaston is expected to lead the goalscoring charge with support from Weston Forrest, Andre Hickling and Damion Powell while goalkeeper Richard McCallum, Marco McDonald, Desmond Breakenridge and Roger Rodney should keep things tight defensively.

Besides the in-form Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon and Wolry Wolfe, Portmore United will be able to call on the services of Kevin Deerr, Fabian Davis, Adrian Mitchell, Mario Swaby and goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers to preserve their winning run.

In other games, defending champions Harbour View will make another attempt to stem their slide when they host Reno at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.

At The Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, former champions Arnett Gardens will attempt to put the Wednesday's result behind them when they host Sporting Central.

August Town have not been having the best run of late and that is not expected to improve against Tivoli Gardens, who travel to challenge them at UWI.

With 12 sets of games gone in the season, Village are still winless and even with home advantage against the promoted St. Georges, one would not bank on them changing their fortunes.

TODAY'S GAMES

6:30 p.m.: Harbour View vs Reno at Harbour View Mini-Stadium.

5:00 p.m.: Arnett Gardens vs Sporting Central Academy at Anthony Spaulding Complex.

3:00 p.m.: Portmore United vs Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park.

3:00 p.m.: August Town vs Tivoli Gardens at UWI.

3:00 p.m.: Village United vs St. Georges at Elliston Wakeland Centre.