Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
NATIONAL PREMIER League champions Portmore United will be looking to get back on the winning trail when they travel to Harbour View's 'Compound' in the Wray and Nephew-sponsored competition today at 3 p.m.
Portmore who were held to a draw at home by Tivoli Gardens in mid-week, are lying third in the league, four points behind Harbour View. With a game in hand against Reno next Wednesday, Portmore will be hoping to overtake today's opponents with consecutive away wins.
However, the men from Compound have always relished a Portmore clash and were the first of only two teams to have beaten Lenny Hyde's men this season, finally catching up with the side which had blanked them 2-0 and 3-0 in two meetings last year.
The east Kingston clash is one of four games being played between Spanish Town and the Corporate Area. Mid-table Tivoli Gardens are at home awaiting relegation zone Seba. It was a Fabian Davis free-kick which made the difference when Tivoli travelled to Jarrett Park in the first round.
Tivoli escaped from Portmore with a 0-0 draw Wednesday but Seba weren't so lucky at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, going down 1-2 to Arnett Gardens.
Geoffrey Maxwell's Constant Spring are still stinging from last week's loss to Star Cosmos and won't get a breather from Reno who'll come calling uptown. Reno, two points above their rivals in the lower half of the 12-team standings, prevailed 1-0 at home in the first round and must be gunning to rub salt into Spring's wounds.
At the Spanish Town Prison Oval, Rivoli have a tricky match-up against improved Invaders, who led them twice at Elliston Wakeland in a thrilling 2-2 first round draw. Rivoli have been making most of their second year in the Premiership, sitting mid-standings on 22, a point behind Tivoli.
Both teams are coming off 1-2 road losses against top-three teams, Rivoli went down against champs Portmore and newcomers Invaders were edged by leaders Waterhouse.
Over at Harbour View, coach Donovan Hayles said he's expecting a close and tight battle against the league champs.
"Playing Portmore is like a chess game," he said. "One opening and it's checkmate, just like our last game. I don't want to be the one making that mistake," the Harbour View coach added, no doubt referring to their Ferdie Neita Park first round match-up.
Portmore were left cursing their luck after Fabian Taylor's shot from outside the area took a bad bounce on the uneven turf, hit kneeling goalie Shawn Sawyers in the chest and rebounded for Jomo Gordon to finish inside the six-yard box.
"It will be a high-intense game of concentration," Hayles added. "The team which can keep formation longer will come away winners."
Hyde must still be mad at his attackers for not putting away Tivoli Wednesday and is out to make Harbour View pay.
A VERY TRICKY GAME
"It's gonna be a very tricky game for my team but we need this one to get close to the leaders," he said, referring to the five-point gap between his side and leaders Waterhouse.
"Against Tivoli we got the chances and had more possession but the final third let us down. We've been working on it and I'm sure we'll turn the corner because our aim is to go to the lead this round and win the league from there."
Harbour View are still without key players such as defender Damion Stewart along with the midfield duo of Daniel Shaw and Winston Griffiths. Sean Fraser is on the mend and could force his way into the starting XI to help out Jermaine Hue.
The east Kingston team's injury list has had them blowing hot and cold this season, fleeing Jarrett Park with a 0-0 draw Wednesday night. Portmore warmed-up with a 6-1 drubbing of Southboro in the St. Catherine Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland knockout Thursday. Oneil 'Chippy' McDonald netted a hat-trick and Dwayne Peters a double.
Even without Stewart, Harbour View's defence is stingy but the likes of Roen Nelson, Andrew Morrison, Wolry Wolfe, Kevin Deerr and Anthony Modeste can pop at anytime. Fabian Taylor has been Harbour View's most effective striker but he's not too hard to mark. At the other end of the field, Christopher Harvey, William Richards and Clifton Waugh will be kept busy all afternoon.
