Three battle for second
published: Sunday | December 12, 2004

Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

IN THIS the final set of matches in round one, the race for second place in the end of first round final of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League is a contest among three teams. Those in contention are Waterhouse, Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United.

All but two teams will be in action today. Not seeing any action today are top-ranked and already qualified Harbour View who have a number of players on national duty today and as such their match against the bottom-placed and relegation favourites Wadadah has been rescheduled.

Of the three teams battling for the chance to meet Harbour View, the one with the best chance seems to be Waterhouse, who host the struggling Constant Spring. With 21 points, they are one ahead of Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United. If they get the better of Constant Spring, which they should, then they will waltz into the final.

LITTLE IMAGINATION

In last Sunday's game against fellow strugglers Invaders, Constant Spring showed just why they are at the bottom half of the table. They showed little imagination and creativity in midfield and were equally lacking the cutting edge up front. Following that display, technical director Maurice 'Danny' Lyn stated clearly that he had already begun shopping for the January transfer window.

Unlike Constant Spring, Waterhouse have been improving week by week and with players such as Irvino English, Damion Powell, Kevin Lamey, Richard West and Weston Forrest, they have too much quality for Constant Spring.

If Waterhouse fail to take advantage of their opportunity, then Tivoli Gardens will not let their's slip. They host Reno who, like Constant Spring, are in the bottom half of the table.

While Waterhouse are expected to be at full strength against Constant Spring, Tivoli Gardens will be without a number of their key players. Unavailable to Tivoli Gardens on national duty are Fabian Davis, Roland Dean and Lenworth Hyde Jr. These absences though should not deplete the Tivoli line-up enough to keep them out. On hand for them today should be the free-scoring Christopher Nicholas, defenders Kasai Hinds, Marco McDonald as well as Steve Green and Waheem Walker.

In Aaron Lawrence Reno have an excellent goalkeeper but a goalkeeper alone cannot keep them in the game.

Portmore United, the third team with a chance of advancing, are the least likely to qualify. In Arnett Gardens they face one of the most umpredictable teams in the NPL. On their day Arnett Gardens can stop any team. In Kevin Wilson, Jonathan Williams, Winston Griffiths and Ray Graham they have players who can unlock any defence.

STRENGTH OF PORTMORE

The strength of the Portmore team is its depth. Even with the absence of first string goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers to national duty, they have an able assistant in Maurice Evans. In defence they are quite sturdy but it is in attack that they are the envy of many teams.

Roen Nelson, who has been a top scorer in the league for the past three seasons, marked his return to the competition last week with a goal and he would be eager to add to that. In addition to Nelson, Portmore, if they are to win, will rely on Kevin Deerr, Wolry Wolfe and the Grenada international Anthony Modeste.

STANDINGS

	P	W	D	L	GF	A	GD	Pts
H View	10	8	1	1	23	11	12	25
Waterhouse	10	5	3	1	16	7	8	21
Tivoli	10	5	5	0	21	6	15	20
Portmore	10	5	5	0	20	6	14	20
Arnett	10	5	2	3	19	9	10	17
Village	10	3	2	5	14	15	-1	11
Reno	10	2	4	4	7	11	-4	10
Rivoli	10	2	3	5	13	14	-1	9
Invaders	10	1	4	5	9	18	-9	7
C Spring	10	1	4	5	12	22	-10	7
Arlington	10	1	4	5	7	21	-14	7
Wadadah	10	1	3	6	8	28	-18	6

TODAY'S GAMES