Hungry Boys’ Town eye TG’s scalp
WINLESS Boys’ Town will be hunting the scalp of champions Tivoli Gardens to kick-start their National Premier league (NPL) season in the feature match of the round at Collie Smith Drive, starting at 3:30 pm today.
In the other games, Waterhouse host Montego Bay United; Reno travel to Harbour View; Portmore United take on Highgate; Village host Humble Lion and Sporting Central Academy face Arnett Gardens.
Last season’s runners-up Boy’s Town, who finished the season on a flourish by chasing Tivoli Gardens to the wire, have not reproduced that form this season and have garnered only one point from two games.
The Andrew Price-coached Red Brigade dominated, but lost 0-1 to Reno, and were held to a 1-1 draw by promoted Montego Bay United.
Today’s match-up against Tivoli should be an intriguing one and hosts Boys’ Town will be keen to secure their first win of the season, hence, a good game is in store for the fans.
Captain Michael Campbell, Oneil Thompson, Xavean Virgo, Dean Thompson, young Marvin Morgan Jnr, Daemion Benjamin, Renae Lloyd, Wayne Ellis and Carlos Wright will again lead the Boys’ Town charge.
Tivoli Gardens are on a high following victories over Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens and could secure win number three on the trot.
The champions are still without Devon Hodges who has an ankle injury and has not retuned to training as yet.
Striker Roland Dean is back in training but will not be included, so the lively Navion Boyd and Mitchily Waul will lead the frontline, with Marcelino Blackburn, Kemar Flemmings, captain Kasai Hinds and Edsel Scott aiming to maintain their 100 per cent win record.
Meanwhile, joint leaders Waterhouse, on six points, welcome Montego Bay United to Drewsland for the first time, but that is where the courtesy stops as they hunt win number three.
Waterhouse, with victories over Highgate and Reno, will be looking to Peter Keyes to unlock Montego Bay’s defence. Jermaine Anderson, Damion Williams, Andre Clennon, Hugh Howell and Vincent Earle could make Montego Bay’s trip a difficult one.
New boys Montego Bay are yet to taste victory in the Premier League and veteran Wilfred Smith, national player Keneil Moodie, Graeme Green, Andre Thomas and Damion Reid will have to step up a notch to upset Waterhouse.
However, the St James outfit proved that it can compete with the big boy after leading Tivoli Gardens for most of the game before losing 1-1, and held Boys’ Town to a 1-1, and cannot be taken lightly.
The match-up between former champions Portmore United and Highgate United should be interesting as it puts coach Calvin Lewis in an awkward spot.
Lewis was the man who guided Highgate to their first ever promotion to the Premier League, but switched allegiance thereafter and is now the coach of Portmore United.
He has since led Portmore United to two wins from two starts, but will be severely tested by his former club at Ferdie Neita Park.
Highgate out of St Mary have scored four goals in two matches so far, narrowly losing, 2-3, to Waterhouse and held Harbour View to a 2-2 draw.
Portmore’s young team will have to be at their best to keep Highgate’s Donovan Davis, Romeo Parkes and company off the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, another former champions in Harbour View should open their account against Reno at the Compound.
The ‘Stars of the East’ lost their opener against Humble Lion and drew with Highgate, but should pack too much fire power for Reno, especially playing at home.
Highly-touted Arnett Gardens and Sporting should have a keen battle at Brancourt as both teams seek their second win.
Arnett battled bravely with 10 men against Tivoli Gardens last week before losing and will again be looking to Errol Stevens, Kirk Ramsey, Leon Strickland, Girvan Brown, William Richards and the two Kemar Browns for victory.
The Vassell Reynolds-coached Sporting clipped Village United, 1-0, last week and should make it
very uncomfortable for the visiting Arnett Gardens.
Both teams love to put the ball down and play, hence an entertaining match should be in store on the lush Brancourt turf in Clarendon.
The struggling Village United, the only team without a point thus far, will be looking to ambush Humble Lion at Trelawny Stadium.
Village have already lost both games — to Arnett Gardens and Sporting Central — and will want to end that losing streak at two games.
The Lenworth Hyde-coached Humble Lion upset Harbour View, 2-1, on opening day, but lost 1-2 to Portmore United and are wounded and dangerous while looking to rebound.