Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterDESPITE THE national team being in action last night, there will be an almost full schedule of matches in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League today.
Of the customary six games, five will be played. Out of action today will be the end-of-first-round finalists Harbour View, the eventual winners, and Waterhouse. Harbour View, with no less than six players in the current national squad, are largely responsible for the postponement of this game.
With the top two teams out most attention will be focussed on those who narrowly missed out on last round's final.
TIVOLI VS ARLINGTON
At Prison Oval, defending champions Tivoli Gardens, in an attempt not to fall off the pace, take on newly-promoted and struggling Arlington. This will see a Tivoli Gardens team facing a side guided by one of their former coaches, Geoffrey Maxwell, possibly without three of their top players in Fabian Davis, Lenworth Hyde Jnr. and Roland Dean. All four were training with the national team leading up to the country's game last night.
Former champions Portmore were let down in the last round by their dropping of points to weak opponents and at crucial stages. They had a similar start to this round with an unimpressive draw against Constant Spring.
A shake-up of the coaching staff with Paul Young taking over from Lenworth Hyde could be an attempt to reverse this trend. Rivoli United, their opponents had a more impressive start than they did last round but they could be affected badly if their top player, Garfield Reid, does not recover from national activity. Portmore too have players in the national squad but they are one of the deepest teams in the league.
The matchup of Constant Spring and Reno is one between strugglers; one of which, Constant Spring, cannot wait until the transfer window officially opens on January 16. Reno on the other hand, if they are to survive, will need a serious cash injection.
At the Elleston Wakeland Centre the two pre-season relegation favourites, Invaders and Wadadah, will meet. Invaders, at home, are expected to have the better of the visitors who were the beating sticks of the last round.
The match which should generate most interest though is the one between another former champion Arnett Gardens taking on title hopefuls Village United at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Village's performance in the last round was anything but one resembling that of a champion. This round started off better for them but they had a similar result losing to Waterhouse. Improvements were noticed though, according to coach Dr. Dean Weatherly.
UNFORTUNATE GAME
"The game against Waterhouse was unfortunate for us as a result of a human error," the coach said.
Weatherly's view was supported by his opposite number, Jerome Waite, who said: "Based on information, they were unlucky not to come out with a draw".
That aside, Weatherly contends there is still room for improvement.
"The fact is though that we are playing much better and are finding a rhythm but we need to tighten up defensively," he said.
Against Arnett Gardens today a point would make a world of difference to them and their confidence.
"They (Arnett) are in mid-table right now like we are and need to move up in order to be contenders. They need the points but we need the points more than they do and this is something that we have to get across to our players," Weatherly said.
If Village are to do well they will have to do so without two
of their top players. Defender Kirk Hendricks and attacking
midfielder Daniel Ricketts will be leaving the club to join Wadadah's rescue mission.
They could also be without Fabian Dawkins and Teofore Bennett who are with the national squad. Their absence, if they are indeed absent should not affect Village much as, according to Weatherly, they were not regular starters. The attacking pair should be Warren Ukah and Damion Adamson.
Arnett Gardens could be without Keith Kelly through national duty and possibly others through injury but coach Waite would reveal neither the names of the fit nor the injured perhaps in an attempt to keep the opponents guessing.
