Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) leaders Montego Bay United will look to maintain their spot at the top when they travel to the Collie Smith Complex to face struggling Boys’ Town FC in the 3:30 kick-off this afternoon.

Montego Bay, who were beaten 0-2 in their previous outing against visiting Humble Lion FC, are on 45 points from 25 matches, three clear of closest rivals Harbour View FC and Waterhouse FC, though the chasing pair have a game in hand.

Boys’ Town, 10th in the 12-team standings, have lost all of nine games already and have accumulated only 28 points from 25 games. In the last round of matches, they ended 0-0 with Rivoli United.

At the Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon, the visitors Waterhouse, in third place due to an inferior goal difference to Harbour View, are aiming to stay close to the summit when they battle eighth-placed Humble Lion FC (32 points) at 6:00 pm.

Waterhouse, fresh from convincingly progressing in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship, were inactive in the last round, while Humble Lion got the morale-boosting win at Montego Bay.

Also in Clarendon, sixth-placed Sporting Central Academy (34 points), desperately hunting a place in the semi-final, host ninth-placed Cavalier SC (30) at the Juici Patties Park at 3:30 pm.

In another 3:30 pm start, former champions Portmore United (32 points), who have gradually pulled themselves out of the relegation hole to be lying in seventh place, will host fourth-placed Arnett Gardens FC (35) at the St Elizabeth Technical High School field.

Portmore’s decision to have this home game played in Santa Cruz is part of the move by RSPL clubs to bring top-flight football to various towns and communities across the island, while also increasing revenue at the gates.

Also at 3:30 pm, the relegation-threatened duo of last-placed August Town (24 points) and 11th-placed Rivoli United (28), will clash at the University of the West Indies Mona Bowl.

In the live television game tonight, former leaders and title-holders Harbour View, who crashed out of the CFU tournament on home soil, take on fifth-placed Tivoli Gardens FC (34 points) at the Harbour View Stadium at 8:30.

The top-four teams at the end of the preliminary phase will advance to the RSPL semi-final.

Today’s games

3:30 pm – August Town vs Rivoli United @ UWI Bowl

3:30 pm – Boys’ Town vs Montego Bay @ Collie Smith

3:30 pm – Portmore United vs Arnett Gardens @ STETHS

3:30 pm – Sporting Central vs Cavalier @ Juici Patties Park

6:00 pm – Humble Lion vs Waterhouse @ Effortville Community Centre

Tomorrow’s game

Harbour View vs Tivoli Gardens @ Harbour View Stadium