Humdinger loading

AFTER DEFEATS in the last round of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) matches, Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens will look to recover from their disappointments when they square off in the feature game of the fourth round at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 5:30 p.m. today.

In other games, Humble Lion play Harbour View at Effortville Community Centre at 3:00 p.m., Portmore United entertain Vere Phoenix at Ferdie Neita Park at 3:00 p.m, and Molynes take on Chapelton at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 3:00 p.m.

Both Tivoli and Waterhouse have had indifferent starts to the season. Waterhouse got off with a win against newcomers Racing United but slumped to a 2-0 defeat against defending champions Cavalier last match day and sit 10th with three points.

Tivoli got their campaign off with a 0-0 draw against Humble Lion before conceding a last-minute goal to lose 2-1 to Portmore on Monday. They are 12th with one point.

Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle said the crosstown derby always brings out the best in the players, and he anticipates another epic matchup.

“I haven’t seen them (Tivoli) yet, but over the years, it has always been a humdinger between Waterhouse and Tivoli. It’s a crosstown derby, and we always look forward to a good game,” he said.

Despite scoring just once in their two matches, Gayle is confident in his strike force. Although he admits that there is work to do defensively, he believes the center-half partnership with Elvis Wilson and Roshawn Amos will eventually get better.

“Javane (Bryan) is still recovering from his injury, and we just hope for a speedy recovery. But we have Atapharoy Bygrave and Nicholas Hamilton, who have put in a good shift. It’s good now that we have three strikers.

“This was Elvis Wilson and (Roshawn) Amos’ first partnership in the Premier League. It’s going to take some time to get it right. Rome wasn’t built in one day. So we will go back to the drawing board and work on it,” he said

Gayle’s counterpart, Jerome Waite, also thought his team was far from their best against Portmore and pointed to poor concentration for their downfall.

Nevertheless, he believes that they have time to get it fixed.

“Our concentration level went on numerous occasions. The concentration, as it relates to the poor passing, continues to haunt us. It occurred twice, and we paid the price,” he said.

“What you saw were poor technical errors, and at this level, you will always pay the price. It’s still a long season. We have 39 games in total. This is our second game. We can only get better as the season progresses.”

In the first game of the double-header, Molynes will be hunting their first points of the season when they face ninth-place Chapelton, who are looking for their second win in three games. A win could lift Chapelton into the top half of the table.

At the Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore, fresh from their first win of the season, will look to keep their momentum going when they host Vere.

However, Vere have shown that they will be tough customers for any opponent this season, and any team that takes them lightly will do so at their own peril.

Vere are sixth on four points while Portmore are 11th, with three points.

In the other game, Harbour View will be aiming to make it three wins in three games when they tackle the unbeaten Humble Lion.

Although Harbour View lost their first game of the season, the stars-of-the-east have come back strong, with victories over Montego Bay United and Molynes and will be confident of making it three in a row.

However, Humble Lion have shown that they can’t be beaten easily. They are the only team to take points off Cavalier this season, and they held the more fancied Vere and Tivoli to stalemates.

Harbour View are third in the standings on six points while Humble Lion are eighth with three.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Humble Lion vs Harbour View at Effortville Community Centre (3 p.m.)

Portmore vs Vere at Ferdie Neita Park (3 p.m.)

Molynes vs Chapelton at Anthony Spaulding Complex (3 p.m.)

Tivoli vs Waterhouse at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex (5:30 p.m.)

Tomorrow’s Games

Cavalier vs Dunbeholden at Sabina Park (3 p.m.)

Mount Pleasant vs Racing at Catherine Hall (3 p.m.)

MoBay vs Arnett at Catherine Hall (7:30 p.m.)