- FILE
Waterhouse stars Irvino English (right) and Roberto Fletcher.
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
THERE APPEARS to be not much at stake in this the final set of games for the 2005-2006 Wray and Nephew National Premier League with the winners and relegated teams already confirmed. Also decided are the top eight teams which will begin competition for the knockout trophy starting next Sunday.
The only real competition left in the league is the battle for fifth and sixth places between Village and Boys' Town. Both are on 48 points and with sixth place meeting third place in the knockout, both would want to avoid sixth spot, so as to avoid meeting Tivoli Gardens.
With that being the case, champions Waterhouse could be forgiven for scheduling a party following today's game against Harbour View, the team they overtook to claim the title.
But while Waterhouse may have their mind on the good vibes flowing, Harbour View will be thinking of closing out the season with a win over the champions. Coach Donovan Hayles, whose team enjoyed a 13-point lead in the second round of the competition, is expecting his players to play for pride today.
DISAPPOINTING END
"It is a season that has come to a disappointing end. We will have to show some pride and character. We will have to win this game to salvage something from the season," said the man who apologised to his team's supporters following their loss to Boys' Town which gave Waterhouse the title.
Waterhouse's Wayne Fairclough has managed, since taking over the team in November, to keep his players focused and would not want to let up today.
"We are going out there to play our usual game while making it entertaining," said Fairclough adding that his players are ready for the encounter.
"They are focused because they know that Harbour always play good football against us. They bring out the best in us and we intend to rise to that challenge.
RESPONDED PRETTY WELL
"They have responded pretty well to having won the title," added Fairclough of the players who dedicated their triumph to the late Peter Cargill who died last April while in charge of the team.
In the National Premier League Harbour View have a better head to head record having won one game and drawn the other. In two other meetings, the end-of-second-round final and the Jackie Bell Knockout, Waterhouse came out victors. In fact, Fairclough credited those two wins, which took place within the space of a week, with giving them the belief that they could win the title.
For Harbour View to come out on top, the likes of Lovel Palmer, former Waterhouse players Richard West and Desmond Breakenridge, Kevin King, Donald Stewart and Jermaine Taylor, if he plays, will have to be at their best. The usual suspects, Kevin Lamey, Jomo Gordon, captain Craig White, Irvino English and Vincent Earle are expected to lead Waterhouse's charge.
In other games, Boys' Town are expected to get the better of Rivoli while Wadadah should find Tivoli too hot to handle. Village United will get the edge over Reno while Arnett Gardens despite their results of late should be too strong for Constant Spring.
TODAY'S GAMES
Boys' Town vs Rivoli at Collie Smith Drive (3:30 p.m.)Village United vs Reno FC at Elleston Wakeland Centre (3:30 p.m.)Tivoli Gardens vs Wadadah at Edward Seaga Stadium (5:00pm)Arnett Gardens vs Constant Spring at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex (5:00 p.m.)Waterhouse vs Harbour View at Waterhouse Mini-Stadium (4:00 p.m.)STANDINGS
| | P | | W | | | | D | | L | | GF | GA | | GD | Pts |
| Waterhouse | 32 | 20 | | | | 8 | | 4 | | 56 | 33 | | 23 | 68 |
| Harbour View | 32 | 19 | | | | 6 | 7 | 49 | 26 | | 23 | 63 |
| Portmore | 33 | 13 | | 16 | | 4 | | 42 | 27 | | 15 | 55 |
| Tivoli | 32 | 16 | | | 6 | | 9 | | 58 | 38 | | 20 | 54 |
| Village | 32 | 13 | | | | 9 | 10 | | 52 | 42 | | 10 | 48 |
| Boys' Town | 32 | 12 | | 12 | | 8 | | 42 | 31 | | 11 | 48 |
| Seba United | 33 | 10 | | | | 8 | 15 | | 45 | 50 | | -5 | 38 |
| Arnett Gardens | 32 | | 9 | | 10 | 13 | 38 | 48 | -10 | 37 |
| Wadadah | 32 | 7 | 11 | 14 | | 39 | 56 | -17 | 32 |
| Reno | 32 | | | 7 | | 10 | 15 | | 26 | 36 | | -10 | 31 |
| C. Spring | 32 | | | 3 | | 15 | 14 | 27 | 52 | -25 | 24 |
| Rivoli | 32 | | 2 | | 13 | 17 | 27 | 58 | -31 | 19 |
