Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Tivoli Gardens' captain, Kasai Hinds (centre), attempts to get in the way of a shot from Arnett Gardens' Kevin Wilson (left), while Orane Simpson (bottom right) and Marcelino Blackburn look on in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at the Tony Spaulding Complex on Wednesday. Arnett Gardens won the game 3-2. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The 'Garden Party', as any clash between Tivoli and Arnett Gardens in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) is termed, will take centrestage in the competition which resumes today after a malaria and Christmas break.
The prime time (3:00 p.m.) feature between the fifth and sixth-place teams will be hosted at the Edward Seaga Stadium, home of the Tivoli Gardens Football Club and as is the norm, this one is expected to be hot.
With both teams locked on points and goal difference, this game could be the clincher and as Arnett Gardens FC president Patrick Roberts said bragging rights, which is so important between these communities, are at stake.
"A game against Tivoli Gardens is usually about bragging rights. Each of these two teams will be fighting tooth and nail to come out victorious so we can expect it to be very competitive and exciting," Roberts told The Gleaner ahead of today's game.
What will also make today's game even more important is the fact that in their only meeting so far this season, Arnett Gardens came out on top 3-2.
GOOD RHYTHM
Since then, Tivoli Gardens have been a different team. As manager Brian Rose observed, they were running into a good rhythm towards the end of the first-round and the early part of the second round only to be halted by the break due to the malaria scare and the Christmas break.
"We were getting into a nice little rhythm and then the break came, which means we have to start all over again. The good thing, though, is that during the break, the players have shown the commitment and the dedication required so we can just hope that the result will match that," Rose said.
Tivoli Gardens should be boosted by the news that Christopher Nicholas, who has not featured for the season so far, was in training over the holidays and will be included in the 18-man squad.
Roland Dean, his usual striker partner, according to reports, is back to his best and these two when in top form are always a handful for any team. They also lift their game for any Arnett Gardens clash.
While the return of Nicholas and the form of Dean should be a plus for Tivoli Gardens, the continued absence of their top two goalkeepers - Edsel Scott and Leon Gordon - should be of concern to them. Damion Crooks will be the man standing in.
FULL STRENGTH
Arnett Gardens but for the suspended Johnathan Williams and Kwame Richardson, whose movements were restricted until yesterday, will be at full strength.
They will be counting on the competition's leading scorer, Leon Strickland, to maintain his hot streak and keep up his goal-rich partnership with the veteran Kevin Wilson.
"For us, our only concern is that the players will show up in a winning frame of mind," Roberts said.
"That we have to hope for because the break affected us in terms of match readiness and that was evident in the rescheduled game against Harbour View after the first break. We have continued training throughout and the players looked good but match situations are always different," he added.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
At Ferdie Neita Park, defending champions and leaders Waterhouse are expected to maintain their five-point lead over Reno with a defeat of the already-condemned Naggo Head, while Boys' Town will have to recover their renowned fighting spirit to keep a hungry Reno at bay.
At Harbour View, Theodore Whitmore's positive run with the Seba team should come to an end as the talent-laden Harbour View should be a bit too much for them.
Seba's MoBay neighbours, Wadadah, could fare better as they should be given the edge over August Town, while Village, despite playing at home, should find the going tough against Portmore United.
Standings
| Teams | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Waterhouse | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 10 | 16 | 30 |
| Reno | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 25 |
| Harbour View | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 25 |
| Portmore | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 23 |
| Arnett Gardens | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 20 |
| Tivoli Gardens | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 20 |
| Boys' Town | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| Village United | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 16 |
| Wadadah | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 14 |
| Seba United | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 14 |
| August Town | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 15 | -6 | 12 |
| Naggo Head | 13 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 26 | -16 | 3 |
Today's games
3:00 p.m. Naggo Head vs. Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park:
(Officials) Howard Stennett, Oniel Clayton, Paulette Riley, Raymond Bogle
3:00 pm Tivoli Gdns. vs. Arnett Gdns at E.S.S:
(Officials) Dave Peterkin, Stephen Brown, Mark Sullivan, Hughill Thompson
3:00 pm Boys' Town vs. Reno at Collie Smith:
(Officials) Kevin Thomas, Garnet Page, Malachi Brown, Lewin Purser
7:00 pm Harbour View vs. Seba United at Harbour View:
(Officials) Courtney Campbell, Anthony Garwood, Ricardo Morgan, Patrick Findlay
6:00 pm Wadadah vs. August Town at Jarrett Park:
(Officials) Kevin Morrison, Kedlee Powell, Dale Ewan, Ricardo Sailsman
3:00 pm Village United vs. Portmore United at Elleston Wakeland Centre:
(Officials) Raymond Pine, Garfield Roberts, Delroy Harding, Elihu Holmes
