Another Garden party today
published: Sunday | November 7, 2004

- File
Davis... 'If Tivoli are to win today, then his leadership will be crucial.'

Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

IF THE past three seasons are anything to go by, today's main game in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League between neighbours and perennial rivals Arnett and Tivoli Gardens should be a treat.

The two inner-city teams will highlight a full schedule of games for the sixth match date of the season. All eyes should be focussed on the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex where the action starts at 3:00 p.m.

Other games on today are the mid-table clash between Arlington and Reno at Spanish Two Prison Oval. This match could go either way.

At Drewsland, battling Invaders should prove no match for Waterhouse on their home ground while Wadadah will be like lambs to the slaughter when they enter the fray at Ferdie Neita Park against home team Portmore United.

C SPRING INCONSISTENT

Constant Spring have returned to their old inconsistent selves as evidenced by the thumping they received from Rivoli last Sunday. Runaway leaders Harbour View, who are playing the best brand of football so far this season, will not be much kinder despite playing away.

Village United sit just a place above the cellar despite being on the same number of points as Wadadah. Had they concentrated a little more they would have had at least six points and would have been in sixth position.

Today they host a rejuvenated Rivoli at Elliston Wakeland Centre and nothing less than a win will be tolerated.

All the other matches though, are not expected to be as appetising as the matchup of the two Gardens. Pure beauty and ball artistry is expected.

"For the past two seasons, knowing that both teams have been able to play on each other's turf, we have had good quality football and I am expecting no different for this game," said Tivoli Gardens' manager, Brian Rose.

Rose is particularly upbeat following what he described as an impressive performance by the defending champions in their away match against top Trinidad and Tobago team San Juan Jabloteh on Wednesday in the Caribbean Club championship.

"I am hoping that the team can report in similar form to what it displayed on Wednesday against Jabloteh of Trinidad and Tobago. The game ended 1-1 but trust me, we played beautifully. It was a very good display," Rose said.

Like Rose, Arnett Gardens' Jerome Waite who never sees an easy game, is expecting a competitive encounter.

"It should be a tough game because on show will be two good teams. There is a rivalry and the teams are very close together in the point standings," Waite said.

As such, he expects the Tivoli Gardens team to employ a cautious approach to the game, first trying to figure out their opponents before counter-attacking.

But Waite's team will be prepared, he said.

What should make today's game even more interesting, according to Rose, is "the fact that Arnett Gardens at this stage are doing better than they did last season, and we too, have started much better than we did, and right now both teams are in second and third position with Tivoli ahead on goal difference only".

TIED AT NINE

Both teams are on nine points, trailing Harbour View on 12 points with a game in hand.

That, though, will not be the only point of interest. The reception of Fabian Davis who shone for Arnett Gardens in two championship teams before heading to Tivoli Gardens last season where he won another, will also be closely watched.

Davis is not the only one to have crossed the border as forward Andrew 'Rusty' Chisholm, a long-time Tivoli Gardens player who lifted the title with them last season, headed to Arnett Gardens this season when he was thought to be surplus to requirements at Tivoli.

Previously, Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Julian McLeish had the distinction of being the only player, at least in recent times, to play for both Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens. McLeish did this while still being a resident of Arnett Gardens.

If Tivoli are to win today, then the leadership of Fabian Davis, who is second to none on local soil, will be crucial. He will need the support of captain Kasai Hinds, Roland Dean, Lenworth Hyde Jnr., and Christopher Nicholas off the bench.

An Arnett Gardens' victory would hinge on the efforts of McLeish, their sturdy defensive line, Jonathan Williams, Ray Graham, Cornel Chin-Sue and Keith Kelly in his cameo appearance. Their finishing will have to be much better than it was against Harbour View last Sunday or they will again pay the price.

TODAY'S GAMES