Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

THE TEAMS with the biggest fan bases in the Digicel Premier League, Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens, go head-to-head in one of six second round matches today on the premise that nothing but a win is sufficient.

As with the crowds, a lot of hype generally surrounds their match-ups which Waterhouse lead 1-0 this season, after beating the 'Junglists' at home. But Waterhouse's coach, Hugh 'Bingi' Blair, was as cool in his assessment as the measured play he once exuded from the middle while wearing the Drewsland and national colours.

"We don't see Arnett Gardens as any rival, is just the ball works, the spirit that the two teams give off. Arnett Gardens is a good team, we can't play around so we have to go out there and make use of our chances," said Blair of the contest they will host at Drewsland Mini Stadium at 4 p.m.

"My only thoughts are to win again, to keep on winning, to keep the statistics of Waterhouse im-proving, so we need to be winning now."

Differing positions

Reflecting on their position at this very stage last season - with eight second round, 10 third and five fourth round matches remaining in the championship - Blair says they are better off.

"The position last year was ninth, this year we are sixth, so we need to step up the pace and end up in the top three and keep in contention with Harbour View, we want to stay much closer to them."

Arnett's position is more desperate.

"It's a must-win game for us, we can't drop any more points," noted Eugene Barnes, Arnett Gardens' assistant coach. "With statistics, it is the W (Win) which always counts, so if we don't score we cannot win. We need to start putting away our chances."

Arnett have won only three times in 13 outings this season and, although they are 10th in the 12-team standings, they are only a point off the bottom with 11, a whopping 18 less than leaders Harbour View.

Waterhouse have fared much better to be sixth with 18 points, making an important advance with a 3-0 home win against Rivoli on Wednesday, which says much of their improvements. It is reflected on the right side of the scoring statistic as conceding goals has been their major downfall.

Turnaround

Even with the three unanswered strikes Wednesday, Waterhouse's goals against (GA) statistics stands at 19, seven more than any other top-six team.

"The backline is what we were working on. We are kind of getting over that and looking to move forward," Blair said. "Progress is going on around the back and we are looking to continue the journey. In the Georges game, they got only two corners and one direct free kick."

Synonymous with their turn-around is the return of key central defender Marco McDonald, who was injured for more than half their first-round matches.

"He's like a Trojan," Blair remarked of the one-time Reggae Boy. "The last match he contributed a lot. He was talking a lot and structuring the back line and telling the players to get into position and he was covering well."

While they have struggled defensively, they have done well to score 18 goals, a tally that compares favourably with any of the top teams.

Skilled players

Not that it is not expected, they possess two of the deadliest strikers in the league, year-in, year-out scoring leaders Kevin Lamey and Jermaine Anderson, backed up by one of the country's most gifted midfielders, Vincent Earle.

His skills in dribbling and passing have contributed much to stabilising and creating chances for Waterhouse, who are strong where Arnett are deficient, and vice-versa.

In other games, champions Portmore United will look to extend their perfect start to the second round when they host Village United in another high-profile game.

The hosts, with a game in hand, are fourth and buoyed with the return of prolific Roen Nelson, who got a last-minute clincher at midweek.

Village, in the meantime, continue to lose, despite the return of Paul 'Tegat' Davis as coach and does not look likely to curb that trend at Portmore.

Leaders Harbour View, one of four teams with two victories this round, are on fire, walloping third-place St Georges at midweek, and should win again against Meadhaven, who are improving.

Second-place Boys' Town are favoured to take full points off Reno, as well as Tivoli, who may have to work harder against a capable St Georges team looking to rebound.

Sporting Central and Rivoli are as unpredictable as they come in at last and next-to-last in the standings. They will be no less desperate for victory than Waterhouse and Arnett.

TODAY's GAMES