- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Mona's goalscorer, Jermaine Malcolm, tumbles after being shielded from the ball by Camperdown's Orlando Orgille during yesterday's Manning Cup quarter-final game at Ferdie Neita Park. Camperdown won 2-1.
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
AFTER A weekend in which there was only one real quality match-up Waterhouse versus Tivoli Gardens, the Wray and Nephew National Premier League is back with a bang today.
Not only is form team Harbour View up against former champions Arnett Gardens, who are level on points with them but have played a game more, but defending champions Tivoli Gardens will host the highly fancied Portmore at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.
Those games are just two of a full schedule of six matches on today, all of which begin at 3:00 p.m.
In western Jamaica, former football powerhouse turned weakling Wadadah will host Waterhouse at Jarrett Park while further up the road a surprisingly stable-looking Invaders host the newly-promoted and struggling Arlington at
the Elliston Wakeland Sports Complex.
In the third of three games in the western region, Reno host Village United, a team which picked up its first point last week, and is firmly planted at the bottom of the table, at Frome.
At Prison Oval in Spanish Town, Rivoli will seek to return to their winning ways when they go up against a Constant Spring team now blessed with some ambition and fight.
Harbour View though will be the centre of attention where the home side takes on one of its biggest rivals, Arnett Gardens. This game features a Harbour View team remodelled this year by coach Donovan Hayles into a potent mixture of ambitious youngsters and talented experienced players against a talented but unsettled Arnett Gardens under the guidance Jerome Waite.
MOUTHWATERING ENCOUNTER
"This should be a mouthwatering encounter. Over the years the battle between the two teams has always featured open attacking football. Both teams do not know any other way to play," said Harbour View's Hayles of the game.
Arnett Gardens' Waite agrees.
"When the teams clash it is always a good encounter. These are two tactically well-prepared teams. They always play end-to-end football," he said.
Harbour View have looked impressive this season and are the only unbeaten team in the league. Despite the absence of last season's leading scorer, Fabian Taylor, and the exit of a number of key players, Harbour View did not miss a beat.
"Our players are very confident in what they are doing. The big difference this year is the teamwork," said Hayles.
"There are some younger players coming to the fore and they are eager to prove themselves. They have inspired some of the more experienced players to lift their game," he said.
Among the players who played bit part roles last year and have now firmly planted themselves in the team are forward Luton Shelton and utility player Lovel Palmer. Young defender Jermaine Taylor is also establishing himself. They have combined well with the likes of Jermaine Hue, Robert Scarlett, Donald and Craig Stewart as well as Clifton Waugh.
Harbour View have also shopped wisely by taking on board the speedy Thomas Grant and goalkeeper Leighton Murray who stood out last season at Constant Spring.
ARNETT NOT WORRIED
Arnett Gardens, according to Waite, are not overly worried about other team's records.
Harbour View's 100 per cent record means that they cannot be taken lightly and the fact that they are playing at home is even more important," Waite said.
"Their record also shows that they are one of the best teams in the competition right now with good young players and a good team but we always play well against them."
Acknowledging that his team's start to the season was less than ideal, Waite said that it was improving gradually.
"We are taking it one game at a time. I think we are improving game by game and are still searching for the right chemistry, the right team.
"The crop of players that we have is very good and competitive. All the players are pulling their weight," he said.
Their most competitive area is the midfield where they have Cornel Chin-Sue, Jonothan Williams, Keith Kelly, Patrick Graham, Winston Griffiths, Jermaine Benjamin and Seon Giveans. Defensively they are covered with Oneil Dunn, Wayne Ellis, Gerald Neil and company while Julian McLeish in goal is back to his best.
TODAY'S GAMES
Tivoli vs Portmore
Edward Seaga Stadium
Wadadah vs Waterhouse
Jarrett Park
Invaders vs Arlington
Elliston Wakeland
Rivoli vs Constant Spring
Prison Oval
Harbour View vs Arnett
Harbour Stadium
Reno vs Village
Frome
All game start at 3:00.
