Devon A. Thomas ... rides Ghost Rapper - File

NEIGHBOURS Boys' Town and Tivoli Gardens are expected to engage each other in a tremendous battle when the west Kingston giants face off in a Digicel Premier League derby match at Collie Smith Drive this afternoon at 3.

Keen to continue making up ground on the leaders, homesters Boys' Town will be hoping to claim all three points and strengthen their position in fourth.

"It's very significant," Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, said of a win. "Of course, we want to keep very close to the leaders. Especially that we're playing at home, we're going for a win tomorrow. We want to win every game that we play at home."

consistency needed

Boys' Town's George Vernal

He added: "We have some momentum, what we need is some consistency.

"I know that Tivoli are a tactically aware team and they have a very good coach. But it's not a game that I've to motivate my team to play; the West Kingston derby is always highly competitive. We beat them 2-0 at Tivoli and will be looking to do the same at home."

Tivoli Gardens, the defending champions, currently lead the 12-team championship on 31 points, five ahead of the Red Brigade.

With only a one-point lead on Harbour View and St Georges Sports Club, the west Kingston-based Tivoli will be only too keen to reverse the result of their first-round meeting and stay ahead in what is developing into an interesting title race.

"It's important that we maintain the lead," said Lenworth 'Teacher Lennie' Hyde Sr, Tivoli Gardens' head coach.

Pointing to victory, Hyde said: "It's very important because they're leading us in the second round. It's important that we go out there and play some good football."

Boys' Town, the only team to win last Sunday, have won three times and lost twice this round, while Tivoli have slowed somewhat, drawing four times before turning back top-flight debutants Humble Lions 2-0 for their only win this round.

The Red Brigade won the corresponding fixture 2-0 at Tivoli and are looking to repeat. Such a scenario, however, is not as clear as it appears as over the past couple of seasons, the teams have had a rather strange set of results with the team crossing Spanish Town Road winning on almost every occasion.

Hyde, a man who knows a great deal about both clubs - having won the Premier League title as a player with both teams - attested to the unusual away-win sequence among the teams, saying: "We know it's going to be a tough game but we always do well over there."

good football

He isn't taking any comfort in that though, noting that "... we have to play good football. We have to mark, we have to be disciplined and we have to play for 94 minutes."

Both teams will be missing key players.

Tivoli will be missing influential captain Navion Boyd and the man with whom he forms a deadly strike pair, Roland Dean, as well as the energetic Dwight Heron, whose father passed on and will be buried today. The skipper is suspended for a red-card infringement while Dean has been injured for some time.

"When these things happen, we have players who have to step up to the plate," Hyde observed. "It's a chance for these players to show their mettle; it's a test for them and I'm confident that they can go out there and perform."

Boys' Town will play without their main striker, Peter Keyes, and gifted midfielder Renae Lloyd, both suffering from injuries.

"We believe that we've enough depth and capable players to fill the breach," remarked Price.

In the absence of the regular net-finders, captain Michael Campbell and George Vernal will lead Boys' Town's charge for goals, while Owen Powell and Keammar Daley will spearhead Tivoli's attacks.

Elsewhere, most attention is expected to focus on the clash between Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse, which have the biggest spectator following; and the night fixture at Ferdie Neita Park where Harbour View - the second-best team this round - will look to maintain their title challenge against a Portmore United team desperate to get a spark.

Resurgent Waterhouse have been the top performer this round with three victories in an unbeaten five-match streak going into their clash against potent, but unpredictable Arnett.

The other top team, St Georges, have a winning history against Sporting Central. They will be looking to extend that trend and keep alive the three-way leadership tussle that has featured in the lead this season.

Points standings

Teams PW D L GF GA GD PTS
Tivoli 168 7 1 27 13 14 31
H View 168 6 2 21 11 10 30
St Georges 168 6 2 15 7 8 30
Boys' Town 167 5 4 14 10 4 26
W'house 167 3 6 18 18 0 24
Portmore 165 6 5 10 11 -1 21
Arnett 165 4 7 17 19 -2 19
Sporting 163 8 5 14 14 0 17
Rivoli 163 8 5 18 19 -1 17
Village 162 8 6 10 18 -8 14
H Lions 162 6 8 12 21 -9 12
August Twn 162 5 9 10 25 -15 11

Games On

August Town vs Village United at UWI Bowl at 3 p.m.

Sporting Central Academy vs St Georges at Brancourt at 3 p.m.

Boys' Town vs Tivoli Gardens at Collie Smith Drive at 3:30 p.m.

Rivoli United vs Humble Lions at Spanish Town Prison Oval at 4 p.m.

Arnett Gardens vs Waterhouse at Anthony Spaulding Complex at 6 p.m.

Portmore United vs Harbour View at Ferdie Neita Park at 7:30 p.m.