'Garden Party' highlights monster double in the Jungle

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Most roads will lead to Collie Smith Drive, and specifically the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, where a cracking double-header will get most attention in the Digicel Premier League today.

In the opening encounter in the Jungle, joint leaders Boys' Town will meet former leaders Portmore United at 5 p.m., while the now coach-less Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens will renew their fierce rivalry at 7 p.m.

Of these two games the 'Garden Party' - the Arnett Gardens/ Tivoli Gardens clash - will have more sting as both teams have a longer history of rivalry. Added to that is the fact that both teams are practically neighbours and have not always enjoyed the best of relationships.

With the hostilities now in the past, most of their battles are done on the field.

Today, the Junglists will be going into the game without their leader as coach Wayne Fairclough quit on Thursday, a day after losing to Waterhouse in a very keenly-contested and exciting encounter, much to the surprise of his club.

players have to lead

"The truth of the matter is that none of us in leadership position at the club expected that coach Fairclough would have left and in such a hurry. He had our full support," said Patrick Roberts, the club's president.

"If there was a concern it would have been about the fact that the team was not scoring, but no one was pressuring him," added Roberts.

With little time to find a replacement and their failure to reach assistant coach Hugh Blair, Roberts said the players will have to lead the charge.

"We told them that they will have to take charge of the situation and deliver because they know what is at stake. In football, players win matches and coaches lose them, so at least tomorrow there will be no coach to blame," Roberts said with a chuckle.

While Arnett Gardens, with the wily Ricardo 'Mandela' Stern, are capable of pulling off a remarkable victory, they will have to do so without two of their key veterans who have made valuable contributions so far this season. Kevin Wilson is still out injured, while Cornel Chin-Sue is off the island. Another absentee will be Rohan Reid, who was red-carded in their last game against Waterhouse. His absence will break up the giant partnership with Newton Sterling.

Tivoli Gardens, despite being talent-rich, have not constantly given of their best.

Back-to-back victories over Harbour View and St Georges Sports Club should have done wonders for their confidence. The fact that Devon Hodges, Keammar Daley and Roland Dean were on the scoresheet in their last game is a good sign and should minimise the effect of losing Navion Boyd to a shoulder injury.

Goalkeeper Edsel Scott was in fine form in midweek and he will need to be in similarly excellent form if Arnett Gardens turn up in inspired form.

Portmore falter

Portmore United have faltered in their last two games, picking up just two points from a possible six. They will need a reversal if they are to earn a place in the end-of-round final. Steven Morrissey, Ricardo Cousins and Mario Swaby will have to carry them.

Boys' Town have rebounded nicely from their recent 5-1 hammering by Harbour View and are only being kept off the top of the table by goal difference. Another three points will push them closer to their goal of reaching the end-of-round-final.

Dean Thompson has rediscovered his goal-scoring touch and captain Michael Campbell has also been firing of late. If they are to get the better of Portmore, then along with Renae Lloyd, they will have to be similarly sharp.

Fifth-placed Sporting Central Academy will be aiming to continue their climb up the table when they host Reno, who are two points and two places below them. A big 3-0 win over Village United on the back of a Francois Swaby hat-trick away from home, followed by a 1-0 win over Benfica at home, would have given the Donovan Duckie-coached team a clear signal that they are hitting the right note.

In previous matches, Sporting Central played well without being able to score and if their last two results are indicative of their present form, then Reno could be up against it.

Reno have shown that they belong. Coach Wendell Downswell is a man of pride and will do all in his power to inspire his team to victory and shrug off the disappointment of losing to Harbour View on Wednesday last.

The Village United/Humble Lion meeting will be a clash of teams in transition. Village United have been on a losing streak, having lost to Sporting Central and Boys' Town in their last two games and have been sliding towards the bottom end of the table.

Humble Lion, on the other hand, have earned four points from their last two games, a development that has coincided with the arrival of coach Lenworth Hyde Sr., who has so far led three clubs to Premier League titles. This one could go either way.

Waterhouse in great form

At the Waterhouse Mini Stadium, the host will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing St Georges, a club sitting at the bottom of the table and in apparent disarray.

Only a significant drop in the form which they displayed on Wednesday when they beat Arnett Gardens 2-0 to return to the top of the table, could help St Georges get the better of them at their home. Kenardo Forbes and Jermaine Anderson in particular, are in great form and Waterhouse coach, Baris Johnson, must now be happy that the team is close to where he wants it to be.

In captain Jermaine Taylor, midfielder Leon Irving and forward Dever Orgill St Georges have players who could be major contributors in any team in the country. If they can manage to click together and rally the other players around them they could leave Waterhouse with dignity and turn their season around.