REIGNING champions Montego Bay United (MBU) will look to pile further misery on promoted Barbican FC in the first Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match day of the new year when they meet at the WesPow Park in St James today, starting at 3:00 pm.

The hosts, Montego Bay United, who lead the 12-team league standings with 32 points from 16 games, have been in prime form of late, winning four of their last five outings and drawing the other.

Barbican, first-time entrants to the Premier League, have endured a torrid christening. The St Andrew-based club lies at the base of the table with 14 points and have lost three of their previous five games.

In football nothing is assured, but given the marked difference between the fortunes of the teams currently, it is hard to see Barbican leaving the western end of the island with anything.

In another tantalising 3:00 pm encounter, last season’s losing finalists Waterhouse FC travel to the Edward Seaga Sports Complex to face Tivoli Gardens FC.

Waterhouse, weeks ago the front runners in the RSPL, have garnered only a point in their last four outings, losing thrice and drawing once. They are third with 28 points.

Tivoli Gardens, in seventh place on 21 points, have also struggled. The West Kingston-based team has just last week snapped a three-game losing slump when they turned back Reno FC 4-2.

Though neither Tivoli nor Waterhouse are enjoying the best of spells currently, any clash between the two former champions is expected to provide excitement galore.

In the Clarendon derby at 5:00 pm, ninth-placed Humble Lion FC (16 points) welcome eighth-placed Sporting Central FC (20 points) to the Effortville Community Centre.

The RSPL’s two most prolific goal scorers are likely to come face to face today when fifth-placed Rivoli United (25 points) entertain the Westmoreland-located 11-placed Reno FC (15 points) at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, beginning at 4 o’ clock.

Reno’s striker Craig Foster has plundered 13 goals to be top marksman, while Rivoli’s spindly-legged attacker Cory Burke has notched a second highest of 10 so far.

At 6:30 pm, fourth-placed Harbour View FC (26 points) host sixth-placed Cavalier SC (22 points) at the Harbour View Stadium.

In the Monday Night live televised game, the Trench Town rivals Arnett Gardens FC and Boys’ Town FC clash in a 8:30 kick-off.

Arnett Gardens are on an outstanding six-game win streak and have 32 points. They trail top team Montego Bay only due to an inferior goal difference.

Boys’ Town have been the opposite, winning only twice in their last five outings and have 16 points to be in 10th position.

RSPL games today

3:00 pm — Montego Bay vs Barbican @ WesPow Park

3:00 pm — Tivoli Gardens vs Waterhouse @ Edward Seaga Complex

4:00 pm — Rivoli United vs Reno @ Prison Oval

5:00 pm — Humble Lion vs Sporting Central @ Effortville Community Centre

6:30 pm — Harbour View vs Cavalier @ Harbour View Stadium

RSPL game tomorrow

8:30 pm — Arnett Gardens vs Boys’ Town @ Anthony Spaulding Complex