Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

Lovel Palmer of Harbour View. - File

WATERHOUSE DO not have a problem scoring goals. They just have not been able to keep them out, especially in the past six matches in which they have conceded 14.

But for three goals conceded from a free-kick and two penalties, Harbour View's defending has been near flawless. The real significance of that defensive measurement is magnified at the other end where a series of one-goal productions have shot them to the top of the standings with a league-high six victories and 20 points.

They are two ahead of in-form Boys' Town who, though travelling to face Portmore United (13 points) in the late game - another big match-up - must fancy their chances as the defending champions are in a slump, failing to win while losing twice in their last four encounters.

Maximum points

If only for statistics, league leaders Harbour View would be a safe bet for maximum points in today's giant Digicel Premier League 10th round clash at Drewsland Mini Stadium, which is set to kick off at 4:00.

Yet Donovan 'DV' Hayles, assistant coach for the Stars of the East, knows it is not wise to read too much into that as they gear up for the challenge against a desperate and dangerous opponent.

"The level of the competition or the quality of the teams in the league is quite even, regardless of the position the teams are in the points standings. So it's going to difficult," assessed Hayles, a former national goalie. "I don't think any team in the league is a pushover, worse Waterhouse at Drewsland.

"Waterhouse are a quality team and they can rise to the occasion. Sometimes they only need a game to kick-start their campaign. We are bent on not being the team from which Waterhouse get the kick-start."

Despite being seventh, on 12 points, they are quite able with the goal-machine front-line duo of Jermaine Anderson and Kevin Lamey.

Concessions

Waterhouse once shared the lead with Harbour View. That was in the fourth round, when they had only conceded twice. Astonishingly, they have let in 13 goals in the past five matches and their overall 15-goal concession is only one better than bottom-of-the-table Meadhaven's 16.

"We are scoring, but we are conceding, so it wipes out everything," noted interim head coach and former national Hugh 'Bingy' Blair, who once pulled the Waterhouse strings from midfield.

He is pulling them from the sidelines now because of Wayne Fairclough's surprise resignation last week, another setback they are working to overcome.

"The players are focused. They realise that we are way off, so everybody has come in and put in the work," the dreadlocked Blair added. "It's 'nuff' (a lot) strength and unity ... everything is coming together, everything is time and space. Football has its ups and downs, every great team has its problems. It's just passage and time ... Waterhouse a go though that now."

"We are not looking at those disappointments, we are trying to go into this game positive. Harbour View have 20 points, we need those three points to remain nearby the leaders and among the top three. Any time, we start lock down and defend, like how Harbour View defend and the man them reach out to each other with that love there, so that even if I run gone forward another man pick up the slack, then we'll be good."

Injured players

It will take some doing, especially as key defender, sweeper Marco McDonald, will miss a fifth consecutive match because of injury.

Harbour View will also be without a top player as an accumulation of cards has ruled out national midfielder Jermaine Hue. That, though, is not a real concern for Hayles.

"The team has been doing very, very well, we are compact as a unit," he said. "Jermaine Hue is a quality player, you can't take that away from him. But in terms of how the team has been performing this season, the difference in a player hardly shows ... as we have 11 players working cohesively."

It shows in their goal spread by strikers Kavin Bryan, Jomo Gordon, Rafeik Thomas and Marcelino Blackburn, as well as midfielder Lovel Palmer, who has accounted for most of their goals.

Portmore vs Boys' Town at Ferdie Neita Park at 7 p.m.

Sporting Central vs Tivoli Gardens at Brancourt at 3 p.m.

St Georges vs Reno at Lynch Park at 3 p.m.

Meadhaven vs Rivoli at Constant Spring at 3 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Harbour View at Waterhouse Mini Stadium at 4 p.m

Arnett Gardens vs Village at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 5 p.m.

Today's games