W'house seek first win against Cavalier this season

Cavalier could be under-strength when they tackle Waterhouse in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) Match-Day 28 tomorrow at Stadium East, starting at 5 p.m.

When the teams met in their two previous games, Cavalier won 2-0 at Drewsland and the second game finished in a 0-0. However, technical director Rudolph Speid said this third and final preliminary round clash between both teams will be close.

Cavalier are in third position on 42 points, while Waterhouse dropped to ninth position on 33 points.

"Every game is different. Waterhouse is playing better and improving and we are affected by injuries to key players," Speid told STAR Sports yesterday.

"It is touch and go for Jamoi Topey, Paul Wilson, Alex Marshall and Omar Walcott. Stephorn Brown and Marlon Laing are ruled out because they are both on loan from Waterhouse," he explained.

With those players unsure to play, captain and Cavalier's top goalscorer Chevone 'Messi' Marsh is expected to play a big role alongside Nicholas 'Cumi' Hamilton, central defender Kamoy Simpson, schoolboy Kaheem Parris and goalkeeper Jeadine White.

Waterhouse will be gunning to stop Cavalier's young guns for the first time this season. The Drewsland-based club started the season in poor form but improved since Donovan Duckie took over from Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey last November.

Kemar Beckford, who is the team's leading striker on eight goals, will lead the charge and should get support from national central defender Shawn Lawes, Andre McFarlane, goalkeeper Diego Haughton and former Cavalier defender Jeffrey Henry.

Meanwhile, in another game, RSPL leaders Portmore United who are on top on 53 points, are expected to get the better of last placed Boys' Town who are battling to avoid relegation.

Portmore have already qualified for the play-offs, but will hunt full points in the chase for the $1 million cash incentive for the team that ends the preliminary stage on most points.

Boys' Town need a miracle to avoid the drop, and must win and hope that other results on the day go in their favour. If the Red Brigade of Boys' Town lose and 10th place Humble Lion win against Harbour View tomorrow night, Boys' Town will be demoted to the Magnum/KSAFA Super League next season.

Tomorrow's games

3 p.m. - Montego Bay United vs FC Reno at WesPow Park

3 p.m. - Sandals South Coast vs Tivoli Gardens at STETHS

3 p.m.. - Portmore United vs Boys' Town at Prison Oval

5 p.m. - Cavalier SC vs Waterhouse at Stadium East

7 p.m. - Harbour View vs Tivoli Gardens at Harbour View Stadium

Monday Night game

8:35 p.m. - Arnett Gardens vs UWI FC at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

RSPL Standings

Teams                P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts

Portmore           25   16  5   4    52    17     35    53

Arnett                25   11 12  2    45    26     19    45

Cavalier            27    11   9  7    31   23       8     42

Tivoli                26    11   7   8   29    21      8     40

H View            27     10   6  11   22   20     2     36

Reno                27     8   12   7   21   22      -1     36

UWI                27     9     8   10  29   32    -3    35

MBU               27     8    10    9   27   30   -3    34

Waterhouse     25     7    12    6    21  26   -5    33

H Lion             26     6    12    8    23  26   -3    30

Sandals           27      4     7    16   18   47  -29  19

Boys' Town     27     3     8     16   19   47  -28  17