Day of the doomed
It’s a do-or-die match for cellar-dwellers Waterhouse FC and Rivoli United when they clash in a mammoth Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Drewsland today starting 6:00 pm.
In the other three games, Harbour View tackle Humble Lion, Portmore United travel to Reno, and Tivoli Gardens host the University of the West Indies (UWI).
On Monday night, Arnett Gardens will take on Boys’ Town in the Trench Town derby at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Despite beating champions Arnett Gardens 1-0 on Thursday, Waterhouse remained rooted to the bottom of the 12-team league on 25 points, just two points behind Rivoli United, but more critically, six points adrift of 10th-placed Reno on 31 points.
This Waterhouse/Rivoli United match-up is a defining one for both teams as they battle to avoid relegation. Whichever team loses, will be odds on favourites to be relegated with just four games remaining.
Veteran goalscorer Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson is on a mission to save his beloved Waterhouse, netting in their last two games against Harbour View in their 1-2 loss and against Arnett Gardens in Thursday’s 1-0 victory.
Anderson, along with Devon Hodges, Kenroy Howell, Hydel High’s schoolboy Nicholas Nelson, Romario Campbell, Hughan Gray, Kemar Beckford, Weston Forrest, Kelso Cousins, Oshane Roberts, Theo Brown and Nicholi Finlayson could prove too hot for Rivoli United.
Meanwhile, Harbour View and Humble Lion will meet in a crucial encounter that could go a far way in determining who makes it through to the semi-final play-offs in the late kick-off at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium at 6:30 pm.
Harbour View are in fourth spot on 38 points from 28 games, while Humble Lion are in sixth with 37 points from 27 games. It’s a massive game for both teams the end to the third round draws closer four and five games remaining for both teams, respectively.
Humble Lion, sitting just a point behind with a game in hand, are in the driver’s seat and they know the importance of a win, especially against one of their main challengers for a top four spot. Both teams have met twice this season with the games finishing 1-1 and 0-0.
The faltering FC Reno, in 10th spot on 31 points, will take on second-placed Portmore United on 52 points in another interesting encounter at Frome starting at 3:30 pm.
Reno, winless in their last four games, crashed 0-3 to Boys’ Town on Thursday, and another loss will see them fall right cloaer to the clutches of the relegation zone.
In the fourth game today, title-chasing UWI, in fifth spot on 38 points, will take on eighth-placed Tivoli Gardens on 32 points in another intriguing match-up starting at 3:30 pm at the Edward Seaga Stadium.
With both Harbour View and Humble Lion embroiled in one encounter, UWI could take advantage of any slip-up and move into fourth spot. Tivoli Gardens are just five points above the relegation zone and they cannot afford to be complacent.
Today’s games
3:30 pm — Reno vs Portmore @ Frome; Tivoli Gardens vs UWI @ Seaga Complex
6:00 pm — Waterhouse vs Rivoli @ Drewsland
6:30 pm — Harbour View vs Humble Lion @ Compound
Tomorrow’s game
8:40 pm — Arnett Gadens vs Boys’ Town @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex