Mid-season champions Waterhouse FC and Olympic Gardens FC will meet in a Zone A top-of-the-table clash when the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF)/Lascelles Employees & Partners Co-operative Credit Union Women’s Premier League second round gets under way today.

The encounter, which will be played at Cling Cling Oval, is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

Waterhouse and Olympic Gardens played out a lively 1-1 stalemate in their first-round meeting, and today’s contest should again serve up some excitement for spectators, as both teams seek to keep their unbeaten records intact.

Only two points separate the teams, with Waterhouse currently at the summit on 13 points and Olympic Gardens on 11 points.

Fresh from their 5-1 trouncing of Cavalier in the mid-season final last Saturday, Head Coach Xavier Gilbert believes Waterhouse are poised to take all three points on this occasion.

“I expect another tough game from Olympic Gardens, but I think we should get the better of our opponents this time around. In our first meeting we got some poor calls. However, the players created enough scoring opportunities and failed to convert. But with a few games now under their belt, and fresh from a convincing win in the mid-season final, the players are confident and raring to go,” said Gilbert.

His counterpart Michael Peart is also anticipating another close encounter.

“Olympic Gardens is the only team that defeated Waterhouse last season, and it was at their home stadium. Despite us now having the home advantage I am not looking at that as much of a factor, as Waterhouse is a good team and has quality players that play well anywhere,” Peart noted.

Meanwhile, Zone B leaders Cavalier FC should be able to bounce back to winning ways against fourth-placed Frasziers Whip FC (six points), a team that they defeated 3-0 in their previous meeting.

The Everdean Scarlett-coached Cavalier, who are currently on maximum 15 points from five games, will be without the services of the competition’s leading scorer Rena Gordon, who was named in the senior Reggae Girlz team for the upcoming Concacaf Olympic Qualifiers.

Second-placed Arnett Gardens, on 10 points, should significantly add to their goal tally with another convincing win over the pointless Rangers FC, who are rooted at the foot of the standings.

Today’s schedule

Zone A

Olympic FC vs Waterhouse FC @ Cling Cling Oval

Real MoBay FC vs Real Mona @ UDC playing field

Trelawny Women’s FC vs Royal Lakes FC @ Elletson Wakeland Centre

Zone B

Frasziers Whip FC vs Cavalier FC @ Owen Palmer Community Centre

Arnett Gardens FC vs Rangers FC @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

Northern Queens FC vs UWI Women’s FC @ Ewarton Sports Complex

*All games are scheduled for 3:30 pm.