Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

FRONT-RUNNING Harbour View have a good opportunity to enhance their Digicel Premier League end-of-first-round final ambitions while hosting inconsistent Sporting Central Academy, as other major contenders will be tied up in tough ninth-round clashes against each other.

With 17 points and three first round fixtures remaining, the Stars of the East are already four points ahead of all but Boys' Town in the 12-team championship and could really steal a march with a victory.

Boys' Town have 15 points and will host joint fourth place Waterhouse, a game behind in one of the day's two biggest clashes.

Decisive match

Tivoli Gardens who, like Waterhouse, have a dozen points, are involved in the other massive meeting, hosting champions Portmore United, on 13 points, in a 5 p.m. fixture that could also prove decisive in either team's end of round final aspirations.

Only five matches are on, as the Reno-Rivoli match-up for Frome was postponed due to the death of Rivoli player Enrico Beech.

The 4 p.m. Harbour View Mini Stadium fixture is today's televised encounter, which also extends viewing privileges to 20 members from each team in Kingston and St Andrew Masters League Asso-ciation. Provided they have proper iden-tification, they will gain free admission.

Additionally, a pilot project will be launched to show the match live via internet on the club's website, www.hvfc.net.

Accessing other goals

The focus will be much different on the pitch as the clubs seek access to each other's goal.

To a large degree Sporting Central, who have conceded 10, will feel accessibility to their net has been too easy and their defence must significantly transform that weakness against a fairly decent scoring team, whose finishing has been accounted for mostly by Lovel Palmer and Marcelino Blackburn coming off the bench.

Contrastingly, Harbour View, with Brazilian technical director Waldemar de Oliveira getting high praise for his work and Coach of the Month honours, have let in only goals from dead ball plays from the penalty spot and free kick just outside the area.

It indicates the difficulties facing the Chris Dawes-coached Sporting Central. But the Clarendon club has young, brash talent in top scorer Hughan Grey and Alanzo Adlam who is battling a groin injury. Offence is their strong point, so even while they are expected to lose, they cannot be counted out.

Big matches

The same holds for the big matches, with much expectation that the one at Tivoli could be a classic based on the attractive football being played by both teams, as well as the special interest that will be provided with Christopher Nicholas returning to what had forever been his home ground to play against his team.

Tivoli, though losing 1-0 at harbour View last Sunday, have grown in stature with its re-admission of top players Chris Jackson, Oraine Simpson, Navion Boyd, Kasai Hinds and others to its squad.

Captain Roland Dean has done a remarkable job with six of their seven goals and he remains the main scoring hope.

Portmore, involved in a six-goal drawn thriller at Waterhouse last week when they scored two penalties, are struggling for victories and have only one to show from their past six outings - a 1-0 success over debutants Meadhaven who have been beaten in all but two of their matches.

Despite the fact that the champions are plodding through a bad patch, they not only possess talent but have been giving quality displays and have an equal chance at the points.

Sticking to their mandate will be key in the other big match-up.

Boys' Town's coach Andrew Price does not give anyone the chance to forget his team wants three points at home all the time. They've successfully maintained that ask, but for one loss to Harbour View.

Yearning for improvement

Waterhouse's coach Wayne Fairclough yearns for general improvements in their overall defending.

They have led in their past four matches, but have not been able to close out the deal, while ending with a draw or loss, even with hitmen Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson and Kevin Lamey netting the goals, and in spectacular fashion at that.

With points a premium for their chances of playing in the bonus game and quality to match, victory will not come easy for any of the contenders.

For the Lynch Park clash in Buff Bay, St Georges and Arnett are as level as can be on points after contrasting form. Geoffrey Maxwell's Portland hosts have been very steady, drawing half their fixtures and winning two, before losing for only the second time this season, last week at Rivoli.

Arnett have experienced a change in fortunes with the appointment of player/coach Fabian Davis, winning three of their last four games in an unbeaten streak, after going pointless in their four opening fixtures.

Not much cheering

One thing is constant, their matches have been defined by a single goal margin. With St Georges finding it hard to score, there's every indication spectators will not have to do much goal-shouting.

Dr Dean Weatherley's Village have improved and made Jarrett Park a fortress. Meadhaven, with only two points, 14 concessions and five goals, are facing problems both on and off the pitch and are not expected to improve their bottom of the table position from two points.

Today's games

St Georges vs Arnett Gardens at Lynch Park at 3 p.m.
Boys' Town vs Waterhouse at Collie Smith Drive at 3 p.m.
Harbour View vs Sporting Central Academy at Harbour View mini stadium at 4 p.m.
Tivoli Gardens vs Portmore United at Edward Seaga Sports Complex at 5 p.m.
Village United vs Meadhaven United FC at Jarrett Park at 6 p.m.