BOYS’ Town, Harbour View, Sporting Central and Humble Lions chase the lone second End-of-Round final slot against Waterhouse in some intriguing DPL match-ups today.

Waterhouse, with 23 second-round points, await either Boys’ Town (18), Harbour View (17) of the Clarendon duo of Sporting Central and Humble Lions, on 15 points each.

Meanwhile, Boys’ Town have their destiny in their own hands, but probably face the sternest test of all the contenders against the in-form Waterhouse at Drewsland.

This match-up is also a battle between the third- and fourth-placed teams separated by just one point. Waterhouse are on 36 points while Boys’ Town are on 35 in the overall point standing.

Prior to Waterhouse’s surprise loss to August Town last week, Boys’ Town were the last team to beat them on November 4 and should be confident of repeating.

However, their task will not be easy as they will be without inspirational captain Michael Campbell in midfield, the hard-tackling Wayne Ellis in defence and Dwayne Forde, all out on accumulation of yellow cards.

The onus will therefore be on the shoulders of George Vernal, Peter Keyes, Oneil McDonald, Damion Benjamin, Shawn McKoy, Asrick Samuels and Xavean Virgo to secure victory.

Waterhouse, following a shocking defeat last week after a fantastic spell of 11 wins in their last 15 games, were brought back to earth, but that defeat could make them take stock and refocus.

Playmaker Kenardo Forbes, veteran in-form striker Kevin Lamey, Damion Williams, Jonathan Williams, Hugh Howell, Vincent Earle, Keniel Moodie and Nicholy Findlayson are seasoned campaigners and should make it a difficult evening for Boys’ Town.

Harbour View, the overall leaders of the league with 39 points, host the struggling but dangerous Arnett Gardens, on 21 points, and just above the relegation zone.

Harbour View, on 17 second-round points, will hope that Boy’s Town draw or lose, and a victory for them would push them to 20 points and into the end-of-round final.

Harbour View boast a 2-0 win over Arnett in the first round and are confident of securing another win, but playing against Arnett is never easy, whether they are in-form or not.

Both Sporting Central and the promoted Humble Lions have an outside shot at reaching the final if both Boys’ Town and Harbour View lose.

Sporting are fourth in the second round with 15 points, three behind Boys’ Town, and a win over Rivoli United will certainly enhance their chances.

Sporting Central’s game is scheduled to start at 3:00 pm, but they will have to wait until 8:00 pm before they know their fate as the Boys’ Town game is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.

Humble Lions, also on 15 second-round points, face fellow relegation battler August Town who are bubbling with confidence after winning two of their last three games.

Reaching the round final would be great for ninth-placed Humble Lions, but even more important is securing a win to move clear of the relegation zone.

They are on 22 points, just three above bottom team August Town and is match-up could prove crucial in the long run in what is expected to be a relegation dogfight.

Meanwhile, league champions Tivoli Gardens could regain top spot with a win over struggling Portmore United, if Harbour View fail to win.

Tivoli Gardens, out of contention for the round final with only 13 second-round points, are second in the overall standing on 37 points, just two behind Harbour View.

Portmore, on the other hand, are faltering badly and are in eighth spot on 22 points, 17 behind the leaders and just three above the relegation zone.

The former champions have won just five times from 21 games, including nine losses, and effectively are out of the title race from last year.

Portmore’s task won’t be made any easier against Tivoli Gardens, but they are such a talented bunch that they can turn things around any day.

Fifth-placed St Georges, on 35 points, will also be looking to keep in touch with the leaders with a win over 11th-placed Village United, on 19 points.

St Georges’ top marksman Damion Harewood, with four goals, has not scored for a while and the club has also lost prolific midfielder Daniel Shaw to August Town.

The Portland-based outfit has scored just six goals in the second round from 10 games and seems to have hit a snag. However, they turned up the heat on Portmore last Sunday with a 3-1 win to reignite their title ambitions and will be a handful for home team Village United.

Village, on the other hand, scored a long overdue 1-0 win over Harbour View last week and, buoyed by that performance, should prove hard to beat at home.

Today’s games

3:00 pm Village vs St Georges @ Elliston Wakeland

3:00 pm Sporting vs Rivoli @ Brancourt

3:00 pm Humble Lions vs August Town @ Effortville

5:00 pm Tivoli vs Portmore @ Seaga Complex

5:00 pm Harbour View vs Arnett @ Harbour View

6:00 pm Waterhouse vs Boys Town FC @ Drewsland