Portmore's Ricardo Cousins and Tivoli's Roland Dean. - File photos

WITH a hefty six-point headstart and only five matches to play, Portmore United launch into the final phase of the Digicel Premier League holding their title in one hand.

They will look to continue paving the way to secure a firm grip on the other side of the trophy, when they tackle a team that has played them tough all season, Waterhouse, in one of the decisive fourth round's first fixtures, at 7 p.m. at Ferdie Neita Park.

"We want to win the title and we want to make sure that we're ready to deal with the challenge come Sunday," said Linval Dixon, Portmore United's coach.

Their realistic challengers, second-place Harbour View, face third-place Tivoli Gardens at Edward Seaga Sports Complex, knowing nothing but full points will aid their cause from the fixture set to kick off at Edward Seaga Sports Complex at 4 p.m.

No point will come easy

Waterhouse's Kevin Lamey

On paper and with Tivoli holding tiny hopes while trailing Portmore by eight points, the east-west Kingston battle appears more difficult than that in the Sunshine City or the Jungle, where Arnett and Boys' Town have a Trench Town derby that means more to Boys' Town's faint title hopes.

But no point, it is anticipated, will come easy in this defining round for not only this season's champion, but those who will be relegated from the other group that includes half the teams that finished in the bottom 12 after three prior preliminary rounds of 33 accumulated matches.

As clear a gap developed by Portmore at the top, so too is the void between the bottom two - Reno (26 points) and Village (27) - and the rest. Barring transformations of phenomenal proportions these positions for those who will be vilified shall not change.

Highly unexpected victory

Village, second from bottom on 27 points, have less points to chunk off. They will do themselves a world of good with a highly unexpected victory in their travels to Meadhaven United - the next team in line - which they happen to trail by six points.

The teams have a strange pattern of results, with Meadhaven winning two games when they visited Village, by the same 2-1 margin; and Village winning the other contest 1-0 at Meadhaven's home field at Constant Spring.

Reno have the comfort of home, but they have lost to St Georges by one goal in every meeting this season, which suggests an acute degree of difficulty.

Still, St Georges are secure from relegation and there is much that Reno could thrive on in its desperation, to alter the trend.

Rivoli, with 10 points separating them and the relegation line, are in a position of safety, but will he hassled by the fountain of youthful talent at Sporting Central Academy, who seek to firm up their position.

At the next end the aim will be very much the same, with Portmore's attacking gang headed by Steven Morrissey, Ricardo Cousins, Carlington Smith and Mario Swaby, who looks to be striking form at the right time, working to maintain their distance.

The reigning champions have tied twice (3-3, 0-0) and won by the slimmest of margins in a one-goal game against Waterhouse and are anticipating another hard match, even though they are out of the title race.

"Playing Waterhouse is always a tough challenge, it's always a game that goes straight to the wire," noted Dixon. "But we're ready for that challenge because we can't afford to slip up at this time."

Cut-throat encounter

Waterhouse have players capable of effecting that slip, scoring forwards Jermaine Anderson and Kevin Lamey, as well as some tricky midfielders who also know how to find the net, especially the unrelated Williamses - Jonathan and Damion.

With only two points separating them, Tivoli and Harbour View are lined up for a real cut-throat encounter. Harbour View won 1-0 last and the other encounters ended in a draw (1-1, 0-0).

The latter is a finish they simply cannot facilitate this time.

Drawing on an analogy from basketball, Harbour View's coach, Donovan Hayles, said it's pretty much all or nothing.

"There are times in the game when the two points are safe. But there comes a time in the game when you've to go for three points or nothing. A draw is a no-no," stressed Hayles.

"We've to go there trying to get three points. We've to take the chance and shoot for all three points."

Denzil Watson, Jermaine Hue, Jomo Gordon and their top scorer, Lovel Palmer, should headline that group looking to enhance their bid by claiming maximum points.

Besides being at home, Tivoli Gardens could feel even more desperate for the points in what also shapes up as a grudge affair, given the recent squabble that led to multiple suspensions and hefty fines that affected both teams in some ugly scenes at Harbour View.

Decisive factor

Quality, though, abound on both sides and that will prove a more decisive factor, with Tivoli looking to follow through on a 4-0 midweek thumping of Boys' Town. Roland Dean, who netted a double, and Navion Boyd are quite dangerous, along with the attacking Oraine Simpson.

"Our aim is to win the remaining five games," Tivoli Gardens' coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, pointed out. "If we do that anything that happens happen. It's important that we start (winning) on Sunday. It's a tough game, we haven't beaten them all season, but we're playing at home so we'd like to use that to our advantage."

Hyde added: "It's going to be a quality game, we like quality games, it brings the best out of us so we just have to go out there and perform.

"I still think we've a chance. The top six teams are quality teams, anything can happen so we still have to give ourselves a chance."

7 p.m.: Portmore vs Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park

5 p.m.: Tivoli vs Harbour View at Edward Seaga Sports Complex

4 p.m.: Arnett Gardens vs Boys' Town at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

4 p.m.: Reno vs St Georges at Frome Sports Complex

4 p.m.: Sporting Central vs Rivoli United at Brancourt

4 p.m.: Meadhaven United vs Village United at Constant Spring

Standings

Teams P W D L GF GA Pts
Portmore 33 19 10 4 41 17 67
H View 33 16 13 4 42 17 61
Tivoli 33 17 8 8 47 28 59
Boys' Town 33 15 9 9 49 38 54
Arnett 33 12 11 10 29 26 47
W'house 33 11 12 10 40 38 45
St Georges 33 12 8 13 30 34 42
Rivoli 33 10 7 16 32 47 37
Sporting 33 8 10 15 31 41 34
Meadhaven 33 8 9 16 28 45 33
Village 33 5 12 16 26 49 27
Reno 33 4 14 15 32 47 26