Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Red Stripe Premier League leaders Harbour View seem well on course to capturing this season's title, having established a 10-point advantage over their closest rival with 13 rounds of matches to be contested.

This view, however, is not embraced by the trailing pack, which consists of neighbours Arnett Gardens and Boys' Town.

The two, which are level on 40 points - with Boys' Town occupying third by virtue of a superior goal difference - will seek to keep their slim title hopes alive when they clash in the Trench Town derby at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this afternoon. Match time is 6 p.m.

"The realistic goal is to accumulate as many points as possible and see where it leaves us," Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, said. "Our work ethic is to come out each match day and play hard to get three points."

The teams have one win apiece in two meetings this season, with a total of eight goals scored. Arnett Gardens come into the game on a better run, having not lost in their last three games. They are coming off a 2-1 away win over Highgate, which was preceded by 1-1 draws with Humble Lion and Tivoli Gardens.

"We continue to keep our eyes on the main prize, which is to win the Premier League, and it is not far off from us, so we just need to stay focused and be consistent in terms of winning," Arnett Gardens' head coach, Calvin Lewis, expressed.

Lewis is, however, cognisant that history and form do not count for much when the two long-standing rivals meet.

"An Arnett Gardens versus Boys' Town game inside the Jungle is always a tricky one," Lewis said. "The important thing is that spectators can expect a good game with a lot of excitement. We definitely want three points, especially given that we are playing at home."

The Red Brigade have conceded 28 goals so far this season while scoring 33, with four of them coming in their 4-2 victory over Sporting Central Academy in their last outing. The Junglists, on the other hand, have netted 35 goals, but what really concerns their coach is the 31 they have conceded - theworst in the top half of the standings.

"We have to pay special attention to how we defend," Lewis said. "We have been conceding goals, so we need to just work on that aspect of our game, and I think once we keep them off the scoresheet, definitely, we can come away with three points. We need to start keeping clean sheets and a lot of emphasis is being placed on that."

Boys' Town are poised to go up against one of their past players who left during the January transfer window in Oneil 'Bigga' Thompson.

"It is part and parcel of the Red Stripe Premier League, players are going to be transferred to other clubs, so we just have to treat Oneil (Thompson) like any other player," Price shared.

Boys' Town will be without their inspirational captain, Michael Campbell, who suffered a severely bruised shoulder in their Jackie Bell KO final loss to Harbour View.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com