Harbour View, Arnett in top clash

Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

GENUINE FOOTBALL fans could not have asked for a better climax to the first round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League football competition.

At the start of today's 11th and final set of matches, three teams are in with a chance of making it to the end of round final set for next Sunday.

Harbour View, who journey to Tony Spaulding Sport Complex to meet Arnett Gardens in the top-of-the-table clash, are in with the best chance.

Their opponents are the next best bet while Hazard United, who host Seba United at Ferdie Neita Park in what can be described as the day's co-feature, are close behind.

With their current scoring form, Harbour View can almost be considered as shoo-ins for next Sunday's final. In their past two games they have scored 13 goals while conceding four. Arnett, on the other hand, have only scored once and let in three and, in the process, losing once.

What should also be in Harbour View's favour is the fact that they are yet to lose a match away from home this season. Their record reads four wins and one draw.

Arnett Gardens, before their shock loss against Seba United, were the top scoring team in the competition. If the players can regain that form then Harbour View could be in trouble.

Like Harbour View, they are going into this game with a record to preserve.

At their home ground, Arnett Gardens have a 100 per cent win record.

What should also be motivating the defending champions, who are locked on 23 points with Harbour View but have an inferior goal difference, is the fact that they are almost in a must-win situation. A slip up and a handsome win for the Lenny Hyde-coached Hazard will see them lose their place.

Arnett Gardens' coach, Jerome Waite, is aware of what it will take for his team to progress and that is what he is promising - attacking football.

"Arnett and Harbour View are the two best attacking teams so we expect end-to-end action," he said.

"The game will be a hard one but nevertheless, we are hoping for the best. We are well prepared physically and emotionally and we are ready to play football," he continued.

Arnett Gardens will be without their midfield livewire Jonathan Williams who is in Grenada on national duty. While Williams will be out, Arnett Gardens could see the return of Walter Boyd from injury.

If he does return and team up with Kevin Wilson, the competition's leading scorer, Fabian Davis, Kwame Richardson and captain Cornell Chin-Sue they will make a formidable attack. In defence their is the combative Gerald Neil, Shane Stevens, Oneil Dunn and young Alex Thomas who is improving with each game.

"The Arnett Gardens team is a quality team. We just have to go out there and play our game, so on that day the better team will come out on top," said Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles of his opponents.

"We are not going to look differently on any team whether they are top of the table or bottom of the table, we will just go out there and play our game," added Hayles.

His players have been doing just that - playing their game. And enjoying it too. Like Arnett Gardens, they will be missing a player, Fabian Taylor, to national duty.

Taylor's absence should not significantly dent their goalscoring form. Jomo Gordon, the competition's only hat-trick scorer, Nicholas McCreath, Daniel Shaw and the man around whom all centres, Jermaine Hue, have been hitting the net with regularity.

The likes of captain Damion Stewart, Clifton Waugh, William Richards and Craig Stewart could shut down any opposition.

Hazard's chances of qualifying lie in them scoring a handsome win - 4-0 or more - over Seba United while hoping that Arnett Gardens and Harbour View play to a draw. If that occurs, then Hazard will advance with a superior goal difference.

The only way Harbour View can fall out of the frame is if they lose and Hazard win.

TODAY'S GAMES