By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, September 28, 2008
Former champions Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse will square-off in the feature Digicel Premier League (DPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this afternoon, starting at 4:00.
Portmore United's Ricardo Cousins (right) fends off the challenge of Arnett Gardens' Ajuran Brown during their Digicel Premier League game at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex last Wednesday. Portmore won, 1-0. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
In the other games, Portmore United travel to Village; Meadhaven host Harbour View; Rivoli United welcome Sporting Central Academy to Prison Oval; Reno tackle Boys' Town and St George's play Tivoli Gardens.
A couple of seasons ago an Arnett Gardens/Waterhouse encounter would have been a mouth-watering affair worth going miles to see. Although Arnett have been struggling from last season and Waterhouse have lost some of their glamour players, this fixture remains the biggest game of the round. Arnett are one of two teams without a point after two games - with the other being Rivoli United - but have been playing some decent football and could explode any time.
The Trench Town side lost 0-1 to Boys' Town and Portmore United in the earlier rounds and are due to get off the mark. They seemed a bit short up front with the burden of attack left on the shoulders of Kevin 'Pele' Wilson.
Fabian Nethersole and Germaine Miller will have to fill the void left vacant by Leon Irving, who got injured in the first game, and the speedy Kwame Richardson, who is still recovering from a long-term injury.
Top defender Craig White has been missing from training since the first game and will miss the opportunity to play against his former club, Waterhouse.
Another former Waterhouse stalwart, Desmond Breakenridge, will face his old team and will marshall Arnett's backline, along with Anthowe Dawkins and Arujan Brown.
Waterhouse are bubbling with confidence after opening their DPL account with a 1-0 away win against Rivoli United to be on four points and in fourth spot, and will be aiming to stay with the leaders.
The Drewsland outfit are still a formidable team with the likes of irvino English, Kenardo Forbes, Richard McCullum, Roberto Fletcher, Jermaine Anderson, Marco McDonald and Oneil Thomas.
Last season, Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens met three times in the league with the former wining the first encounter, 4-2, and the other games ending in 1-1 and 0-0 stalemates.
Today's clash should be another close affair with Waterhouse having the edge. However, Arnett Gardens are like the proverbial wounded predator and could secure their first win of the season.
Meanwhile, defending champions and leader, Portmore United, should notch their third consecutive win against Village United at Jarrett Park.
The likes of Stevn Morrissey, Carlington Smith, Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon, Kevin Deerr, Omar Campbell, Anthony Modeste, Shawn Sawyers, Tyrone Sawyers should prove too hot for Village to handle.
Another interesting game should be between newcomers Meadhaven and former champions Harbour View. Meadhaven have surprised many pundits after being held to a 1-1 and 2-2 draws by Tivoli and Sporting Central.
The Alrick Clarke-coached boys are still hunting their first win in the top flight, but Harbour View wouldn't want that dubious distinction of losing to the rookies to befall them.
Reno FC will be hoping for their first win, also against Boys' Town; likewise St George's over Tivoli Gardens.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Former champions Arnett Gardens and Waterhouse will square-off in the feature Digicel Premier League (DPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this afternoon, starting at 4:00.
In the other games, Portmore United travel to Village; Meadhaven host Harbour View; Rivoli United welcome Sporting Central Academy to Prison Oval; Reno tackle Boys' Town and St George's play Tivoli Gardens.
A couple of seasons ago an Arnett Gardens/Waterhouse encounter would have been a mouth-watering affair worth going miles to see. Although Arnett have been struggling from last season and Waterhouse have lost some of their glamour players, this fixture remains the biggest game of the round.
Arnett are one of two teams without a point after two games - with the other being Rivoli United - but have been playing some decent football and could explode any time.
The Trench Town side lost 0-1 to Boys' Town and Portmore United in the earlier rounds and are due to get off the mark.
They seemed a bit short up front with the burden of attack left on the shoulders of Kevin 'Pele' Wilson.
Fabian Nethersole and Germaine Miller will have to fill the void left vacant by Leon Irving, who got injured in the first game, and the speedy Kwame Richardson, who is still recovering from a long-term injury.
Top defender Craig White has been missing from training since the first game and will miss the opportunity to play against his former club, Waterhouse.
Another former Waterhouse stalwart, Desmond Breakenridge, will face his old team and will marshall Arnett's backline, along with Anthowe Dawkins and Arujan Brown.
Waterhouse are bubbling with confidence after opening their DPL account with a 1-0 away win against Rivoli United to be on four points and in fourth spot, and will be aiming to stay with the leaders.
The Drewsland outfit are still a formidable team with the likes of irvino English, Kenardo Forbes, Richard McCullum, Roberto Fletcher, Jermaine Anderson, Marco McDonald and Oneil Thomas.
Last season, Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens met three times in the league with the former wining the first encounter, 4-2, and the other games ending in 1-1 and 0-0 stalemates.
Today's clash should be another close affair with Waterhouse having the edge. However, Arnett Gardens are like the proverbial wounded predator and could secure their first win of the season.
Meanwhile, defending champions and leader, Portmore United, should notch their third consecutive win against Village United at Jarrett Park.
The likes of Stevn Morrissey, Carlington Smith, Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon, Kevin Deerr, Omar Campbell, Anthony Modeste, Shawn Sawyers, Tyrone Sawyers should prove too hot for Village to handle.
Another interesting game should be between newcomers Meadhaven and former champions Harbour View. Meadhaven have surprised many pundits after being held to a 1-1 and 2-2 draws by Tivoli and Sporting Central.
The Alrick Clarke-coached boys are still hunting their first win in the top flight, but Harbour View wouldn't want that dubious distinction of losing to the rookies to befall them.
Reno FC will be hoping for their first win, also against Boys' Town; likewise St George's over Tivoli Gardens.