Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

HARBOUR VIEW coach Donovan Hayles admits they have never had it easy against Arnett Gardens.

Linval Dixon, the coach of Portmore United, with whom they are battling neck-and-neck for the Digicel Premier League title, noted the same about St Georges Sports Club.

Despite the uneasy nature of the matches they will host this afternoon, the clubs that each have 57 points at the pinnacle of the standings are focused on one thing, winning.

They have been very good at that recently, both winning four times in their past five matches. And guess what, the day Portmore drew and Harbour View looked set to win with a 2-0 lead, they faltered at the death to end in a four-goal tie.

Today though, they are determined to take maximum points in what has shaped up as a difficult assignment.

"We've never had it easy against Arnett and the last time they played us here that's where they got off the mark with a victory," noted Hayles of their 1-0 first-round loss at Harbour View Mini Stadium.

Changing the course

"We're bent on changing that course now, we have to win," he remarked of the encounter set to kick off at 5 p.m. "At the stage of the competition we're at now we can't afford to drop points, especially at home. The competition is very close."

The Stars of the East are coming off a 2-1 midweek win at tough Boys' Town, with a double strike from Jahmali Spence, as they advertised their depth.

Also in their line-up are proven goalscorers Lovel Palmer, Marcelino Blackburn, Kavin Bryan and Jermaine Hue.

Central midfielder Richards will not play, after picking up a red card in their last game.

Arnett Gardens are also missing a top player, their talisman Kevin 'Pele' Wilson.

Void created by injury

Player/coach Fabian Davis noted the significant void created by his injury in the last couple of games, but noted that others will have to lift their game.

"It's good when you have a goalscorer out there on the pitch ... he had found his rhythm and was scoring goals regularly," Davis pointed out. "Kevin is also a leader and we'll be missing him, but other players will have step up and fill that role."

For the former Reggae Boy, finishing is key because they need to win to strengthen their chances of gaining a prime position for the fourth round.

"It's very important for us to try and accumulate as many points as we can. It's important for us to finish in the top six. We got an opportunity to win on Wednesday to enhance our chances but we drew that match," he admitted.

A tough game

In that game, Arnett led Reno 2-0, but were clawed back for a 2-2 finish. It was the Junglists' third consecutive draw.

Besides beating Harbour View, they also lost to the Stars of the East 2-1 at Arnett.

"Come Sunday, we know it's going to be pretty tough out there, we've to put away our chances," he said. "There's no magic, every game we keep on creating numerous chances. We drew our last three games but we created like eight chances in every match. Goals win matches and if we don't do that then that's not going to happen."

Besides Davis, who plays from midfield, Leon Strickland, Newton Sterling, Kwame Richardson and former Harbour View man, Loxley Thomas, will lead their hunt for goals.

That challenge promises to be very active in the 7 p.m. match-up at Portmore, given the desire of both contenders. St Georges beat Portmore 2-1 in their first-round clash at this venue, a result the defending champions can ill-afford at this time.

"If we assess the St Georges team, it's a team that always gives us problems," observed Dixon, who makes his comments guardedly.

They edged Sporting Central Academy - another third-round form team - 1-0 Wednesday on a goal from Steven Morrissey, who along with Eric Vernan, Ricardo Cousins and Kevin Deerr, will headline their charge today.

"It's going to be a tough encounter. The last game they played, they drew with us," he added of the return match that ended 0-0 at Lynch Park in Buff Bay. "I know Geoffrey (Maxwell) is coming to try and win the game. But we've to keep on getting results.

"We're playing at home and we don't want to lose a game at this time. Harbour View are not losing, so we definitely have to do the same thing. We'll be ready come Sunday," Dixon promised.

St Georges coach, Maxwell, is certain his team will be up for the challenge too.

"As far as the game itself is concerned, we're the only team that have gone to Portmore and defeated the defending champions," he said. "Going into that game on Sunday I'm confident that my team will lift itself up. They seem to lift themselves against the bigger name teams. I think it's a mindset."

We can lift ourselves up

Maxwell added: "I think they're going to come fired up and try to avenge that loss. They're also joint leaders with a good chance to repeat. I'm hoping we can lift ourselves up and play as well as the first encounter," he added.

They were held 2-2 by an improving Meadhaven Wednesday, to record their second consecutive tie and will look to leading marksman, midfielder Daniel Shaw, to spur their ambitions.

In other matches, Sporting Central are expected to advance in their climb from the bottom grouping with three points, as Village appear to be in a tailspin; talent-glitzed but enigmatic Waterhouse hold the handle against a Reno team very good at tying matches; Boys' Town must work hard to shut out a Meadhaven unit that cannot be taken for granted; while Tivoli Gardens' talent must shine to get the better of a well-organised and improved Rivoli unit.

GAME TIMES

Boys' Town vs Meadhaven United at Collie Smith Drive at 3:30 p.m.

Sporting Central Academy vs Village United at Brancourt at 3:30 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Reno at Waterhouse Mini Stadium at 4 p.m.

Tivoli Gardens vs Rivoli United at Edward Seaga Sports Complex at 5 p.m.

Harbour View vs Arnett Gardens at Harbour View Mini Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

Portmore United vs St Georges Sports Club at Ferdie Neita Park at 7 p.m.