ARNETT GARDENS will face a test of character at home when they host Spanish Town's Rivoli United in a Wray & Nephew National Premier League match at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex this evening at 5:00p.m.
The Trench Town team which won back-to-back titles before being thwarted in last season's final, ended with one of the most shocking results in recent years a 0-4 loss to Seba on Sunday at Jarrett Park which has barely held its own in the past few seasons.
"This loss is just one of those things. We went down the same day and fatigue took its toll. Different from that, the concentration was at an all time low," said Jerome Waite, Arnett Gardens' coach.
"This was just our second game and you are going to have games where you are going to win some and where you are going to lose some. We just have to put this one behind us and see how best we can get the players mentally prepared. Our tactical approach remains the same, it's more about preparing the mind," a reassured Waite told The Gleaner...
Though playing at home Arnett, already depleted because stars Kevin 'Pele' Wilson, Shane Stevens and Everton Bunsie are playing in the United States, face a stiff task as they will not have the services of national defender Oneil Dunn who was red carded very early in Sunday's match. Midfield ace Cornel Chin-Sue was also forced out of that game with an injury and so, too, Rae Graham, with a dislocated shoulder.
Thus, they will rest their hopes on the likely return of Walter Boyd, yet to appear this season, as well as Denton Shedden, Kwame Richardson, and Jonathan Williams.
Despite Arnett's embarrassing loss Sunday, Rivoli's assistant coach, Utah Blade, says his team cannot afford to become complacent.
"We are not looking at Arnett's scoreline (previous game) and thinking it's going to be a 'cake-walk'. I know when your back is against the wall that's the time you put up more resistance. With them going down four, I think they are going to come and try and prove a point and bounce back, and we are going to be equal to the task. We are going to put our best foot forward."
Eccentric striker Patrick Beech will lead Rivoli's charge along with Marvin Henry, who has also been on the scoresheet since the start of the season, while Mark Wisdom and national Under-23 goalie, Allien Whittaker, will shore up their defensive area.
Blade added that Rivoli, a point ahead of Arnett on four, is confident and full of good vibes.
"The vibes is good. The thing is one has to believe in himself and if you don't believe in yourself you can't do it. You have to believe then go out there and do it," he said.
In other games, champions Portmore United will chase their third consecutive win when they host Reno.
Portmore, which remain the only team with a 100 per cent win record after victories over newcomers Star Cosmos and Tivoli, will bank mainly on strike duo Roen Nelson and Andrew Morrison to deliver the goals.
Geoffrey Maxwell's Reno have scored a goal and conceded the same for draws 1-1 in both early games, which indicate they cannot be taken lightly.
Waterhouse, one of the hardest teams to score and be scored on, have also drawn twice, and will be looking to break the ice in a potentially high class match-up against Harbour View, which rebounded from an opening loss to beat Invaders 2-1 on Sunday off a Fabian Taylor double.
Constant Spring and Tivoli are also evenly poised and will have a tough time taking full points off each other. They are expected to put in a lot of effort as both suffered losses on Sunday.
Star Cosmos and Invaders will contest what should be an intriguing battle among newcomers. Both have lost their opening matches and now have their best chance to win.
