Can anyone snap runaway leaders Weymouth Wales’ unbeaten run?
Will the Carrington Village-based outfit become complacent now that they have a seven-point lead at the top of the standings? Or will Wales continue their march toward a 15th top-flight title with another victory?
Those questions could be answered tonight as an intriguing triple header awaits football fans in the Digicel Premier League on a softish outfield at the National Stadium following heavy rain over the past two days.
Wales face a KDJ Auto Parts Gatorade Dayrells Road team which is desperate for points to move away from relegation territory in the second game starting at 6 p.m.
Wales’ success this season has been chiefly because their midfield trio of Paul “Soup” Lovell, Zaeehaeus Polius and Jabar Greene has dominated proceedings. The three have not only created countless chances for strikers Dwayne Stanford, the season’s top goal-scorer, and Kemar Headley but also found the nets themselves while Kirk Best also got on the scoresheet in the last game when they defeated Mackeson Brittons Hill 2-1.
On the other hand, Dayrells Road’s Curtis Odle has the skills and stamina but needs to stick to simple soccer and keep his focus.
Support from John Stoute and Brian Bynoe is going to be crucial in supplying service to their front man Tristan “Fishy” Parris to test Wales’ central defensive duo Julian Mottlley and Shawn Clarke.
Dayrells Road will feel that they can get the better of Wales after losing 1-0 in the first round but a lot will depend on how Jomo Brathwaite marshals the defence to thwart the Wales’ attack.
This encounter will be preceded by a battle between lowly defending champions Meridian Castrol Youth Milan and Bagatelle at 4 p.m. When these teams met in the first round, Bagatelle edged Milan 1-0 at Orange Hill.
After losing to Gall Hill 2-0 on Thursday, Milan will be hoping that their experienced goalkeeper Adrian Chase is fully fit again as they seek to rebound.
The feature game at 8 p.m. is between this season’s two hot-and-cold teams, Brittons Hill and Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame, who played to a 1-1 draw in the first round.
Both teams are smarting from losses in their last match, with Brittons Hill ruining the chance to close the gap on Wales.
The Dames’ cause has not been helped by the recent illness of their inspirational coach Tony Jarvis.
With Dwayne Mars missing a few games through injury, Zico Edmee has emerged as the Dames’ point man but they will be hoping that DeCarlo Jemmott and Carl Joseph, who has been pushed into an attacking role, can penetrate the usually solid Brittons Hill defence.
Both teams have a mix of old hands and youngsters, with Brittons Hill still depending on Gregory “Lalu” Goodridge, Luther Watson and Anthony Cumberbatch, while former national captain John “Nobby” Parris, Rudy Grosvenor, John Hawkesworth and Bryan Neblett are still key components in the line-up.
For all their striking options with players of the calibre of Riviere Williams, Hendy Richards, Arantes Lawrence and Walton Burrowes as well as lanky duo Travis “Angus” Coppin and Edwin Brereton, Brittons Hill’s management team of Lennox Ferdinand and Fabian Wharton has not found the perfect combination.
Short standings
Wales 26, BDF 19, Brittons Hill 16, Paradise 15, Gall Hill 14, Notre Dame 13, Youth Milan 13, Dayrells Road 9, Bagatelle 9, Pinelands 4.
Leading goal-scorers
Dwayne Stanford (Wales) 8; Tristan Parris (Dayrells Road) 5, John Parris (Notre Dame) 5, Norman Forde (Youth Milan) 5; Kyle Gibson (BDF) 4, Carl Joseph (Notre Dame) 4, Kemar Headley (Wales) 4, Zaeehaeus Polius (Wales).
