Boys’ Town face daunting task against Arnett in Trench Town derby
After ending their 14-game winless streak, Boys’ Town will be aiming to end the unbeaten run of champions Arnett Gardens in their Red Stripe Premier League Trench Town derby game at Barbican Complex today.
Match time is 3:00 pm.
There will be four other games on as leaders Portmore United host UWI FC at Spanish Town Prison Oval; Cavalier travel to Montego Bay United; Sandals South Coast take on Humble Lion and Tivoli Gardens tackle Reno. All games are set for 3:00 pm.
In the lone match on Friday, Waterhouse host Harbour View at 7:00 pm.
Boys’ Town, who are sitting at the bottom of the league on 10 points from 17 games and in real danger of relegation, scored their second win of the season when they defeated Reno recently.
Arnett Gardens are second on 35 points and are the only unbeaten team in the league after 17 games and are fancied to keep that record going. But they face a Boys’ Town team that always lifts its game when they meet in this steamy innercity derby and today should be no different.
Both teams played to a 1-1 draw in the first round, but since then Arnett have found another gear and are sitting 25 points ahead of their Trench Town neighbours Boys’ Town.
The Red Brigade will be hoping to secure their third win of the season, and how better to get it against the high-flying Arnett Gardens.
Boys’ Town will be looking to Xavean Virgo, Daemion Benjamin, Garfield Gillespie, Javani Campbell, Pierre McPherson and Shaquile Bradford to step up in the absence of the unfit trio of Jameil Hardware, Rafeik Thomas and Michael Campbell.
Arnett Gardens, who have probably the deepest squad, will be led by veteran Oneil Thompson, Vishinul Harris, Fabian Reid, Lennox Russell, Kamal Malcolm, Kenneil Hyde and Renae Lloyd.
Meanwhile, leaders Portmore United (37 points) face fourth-placed UWI (24 points) in what should be another intriguing encounter at Prison Oval. UWI are one of two teams to defeat Portmore this season, winning 1-0 on November 1. Another close battle is in store with the advantage to Portmore.
Third-placed Tivoli Gardens (29 points) will be hoping to stay in touch with the leaders when they play sixth-placed Reno (22 points) at the Edward Seaga Complex. Tivoli will be looking to rebound from 0-2 defeat to Portmore and also avenge a 0-1 loss at the hands of Reno on opening day.
Former champions Montego Bay United, sitting out of a playoff spot in seventh position on 20 points, host fifth-placed Cavalier (24 points) at WesPow Park.
Montego Bay are expected to charge up the ladder and they must get a positive result against a Cavalier team that defeated them 2-1 in the first round to ignite their resurgence.
Meanwhile, the promoted Sandals South Coast, in 11th spot on 12 points, are undefeated in their last three games and have shown a lot more grit as they try to fight their way out of the relegation zone. The Westmoreland-based team tackle ninth-placed Humble Lion (19 points) at Frome.