Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

LAST WEEK, the fixtures distinctly favoured the home teams, who won all the completed matchups.

Today's schedule is stark in contrast with the vast majority of those playing in their backyards looking likely to lose in the fifth round of the Digicel Premier League. Joint leaders Harbour View and Waterhouse travel to tackle teams eight points below them on two and were barely able to scratch draws at home.

Meadhaven and Arnett recently severed ties with their head coaches in acrimonious circumstances and the latter haven't scored a point in four tries; while Rivoli and St Georges, who appear to have the best chance of appeasing home fans, have only scored once each.

Lack-lustre performances

Aside from Harbour View's 4-0 demolition of Village and Waterhouse's 3-1 success over Meadhaven, no team has been lighting up the league with goals. But even the two homesters given a shot at winning will really have to raise the ante.

In the latter part of a match they drew with a last-minute goal at Waterhouse and seven minutes after conceding in a washout at Boys' Town last week, St Georges actually did. But it's maintaining tempo that will make the difference and, as their coach, Geoffrey Maxwell, pointed out, more is desired. "Where we are right now isn't bad," he said after last week's washout.

Thankful

Of his team in its second season since regaining promotion, he said: "Three points from three games, they continue to learn what the Premier League is. You can't be happy but you have to be thankful."

The Portland team was challenging for an end-of-round final berth in the first phase last season, but ended up battling against demotion by the time it came down to the fourth and final round.

Good news though, St Georges had the measure of Sporting, who also won promotion last season and will be looking again to their captain, Damion Harwood, and hard-kicking midfielder Daniel Shaw to provide major inspiration in continuing that trend.

Hughan Grey has been quite trendy, scoring four of the six goals netted by Clarendon's Sporting Central this season. The striker and busy midfielder Alanzo Adlam will lead the charge for this bunch whose youthful character is typified by its free-spirited approach that has generally brought all or nothing.

Coach Chris Dawes believes they are more mature and the manifestation of that development will enhance their chances of changing their fortunes against St Georges, who won two and drew the other of their head-to-head clashes last season.

Rivoli have lost matches against the top clubs Portmore, the defending champions, Harbour View and Waterhouse.

No easy task

However, they have secured their only win at Prison Oval and with seasoned representatives Devon Hodges, the Planter brothers, Derrick and Barrington, and Omar Parker in their ranks, Rivoli are aiming to floor Boys' Town.

That is no easy task. In fact, Boys' Town, one of the toughest teams to break down, have grown considerably since reclaiming Premier League status several years ago.

Rain has hampered the Colour Reds' match schedule and they only played for the third time, in a 1-1 finish at Reno, on Thursday.

TODAY'S MATCHES

Reno vs Harbour View at Frome - 3:30 p.m.

Village vs Waterhouse at Jarrett Park - 6:30 p.m.

St Georges vs Sporting Central at Lynch Park - 3:30 p.m.

Meadhaven vs Portmore at Constant Spring - 3:30 p.m.

Arnett vs Tivoli at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex - 5 p.m.

Rivoli vs Boys' Town at Spanish Town Prison Oval - 4 p.m.