Howard Walker | Jamaica Observer
The festive season is upon us but no club will be giving anything away as a full slate of matches is on today in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).
The well-oiled Harbour View machine will be on display once again when they travel to Stadium East to play Cavalier.
The Stars of the East are six points clear atop the league with 29 points, on the back of winning eight of their last nine games, and despite playing away from home, should be hard to deny.
Cavalier have shown that they are no pushovers despite languishing in seventh spot on 17 points and will have to work hard to secure victory against the leaders and defending champions.
Having drawn their last four games, second-placed Montego Bay United, on 23 points are six points adrift of Harbour View and if they do not return to winning ways, the leaders could disappear into the distance.
Montego Bay are anxious for victory but their task will be a very difficult one against fifth-placed Tivoli Gardens (18 points), who are looking to stay in touch with the leaders. Tivoli should welcome back midfielder Kaemmar Daley to their starting team and that will be a big boost to their confidence.
Third-placed Waterhouse on 21 points will have to do without the services of Jermaine Anderson when they travel to fierce rivals and ninth-placed team Arnett Gardens, who are on 15 points.
Arnett Gardens will be without Andre Clennon, who picked up a red card against Tivoli Gardens. He joins Anderson, also out on red card for this crucial clash.
Former champions Portmore United and promoted August Town meet in a bottom-of-the-table encounter at the UWI Mona Bowl. Both teams are on 11 points but based on current form, Portmore United have the edge.
Fourth-placed Humble Lion, on 19 points, travel to the Spanish Town Prison Oval to tackle sixth-placed Rivoli United, who are on 18 points, and looking to overtake them in the table.
It should be an intriguing encounter as Rivoli United are surprisingly playing some good football, while Humble Lion are a hard-running unit.
At Juici Patties Park in Clarendon, home team Sporting Central Academy, in tenth spot on 14 points, welcome eighth-placed Boys Town on 16 points. Both teams are trying to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Today’s games
3:00 pm – August Town vs Portmore United @ UWI Bowl
3:00 pm – Montego Bay vs Tivoli Gardens @ Wespow Park
3:00 pm – Sporting Central vs Boys’ Town @ Juici Patties Park
4:30 pm – Cavalier vs Harbour View @ Stadium East
5:00 pm – Rivoli United vs Humble Lion @ Prison Oval
6:00 pm – Arnett Gardens vs Waterhouse @ Anthony Spaulding Complex