Ainsley Walters, Star Writer

Harbour View's Kavin Bryan (left). file

LEADERS Harbour View face a potentially dangerous Digicel Premier League trip to Portland tomorrow afternoon against St. Georges, who embarrassed them twice last season as a promoted team, winning 2-0 home and away.

Harbour View impressively put away Village United 4-0 at Compound on Sunday night to race atop the early standings on goal difference after one match.

However, they must still be haunted by memories of Lynch Park, where they drew 0-0 in their first match last season before losing 2-0 at the Portland seaside venue in the second round.

St Georges won 10 of 18 matches at home last season to finish third in home games played, behind runners-up Tivoli Gardens and champions Portmore United.

Coach Geoffrey Maxwell won an important morale-boosting last-gasp point in a 1-1 draw at Waterhouse Sunday and will be pushing his team to maintain dominance over Harbour View as well as to keep their home ground sacred.

Post-Rene Simoes squad

However, Harbour View, boasting their new Brazilian coach, started the season blazing and could prove more than a handful for the Portlanders.

Jermaine Hue, ignored by Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitmore for the first post-Rene Simoes squad, will be looking to regain his place among the nationals and remains Harbour View's dangerman in midfield.

Mitchily Waul, back from loan at August Town, caused all sorts of problems for Village on Sunday, winning a penalty for the opening goal, which Hue converted, and returned to hit the net again in the 89th.

In addition, Kavin Bryan, who added the fourth goal, should bother St Georges all afternoon with his pace and ability to turn on a dime.

However, Lynch Park is St. Georges' fortress and with free-kick specialist Daniel Shaw in their line-up, the Portlanders, as usual, cannot be underestimated at home.

Second-place Portmore travel to wounded Arnett Gardens bouncing after their 2-0 victory over promoted Rivoli at Ferdie Neita Park.

Arnett conceded a second-half stoppage time goal to go down 1-0 at Boys' Town and will be burning to get points on the board.

Physically improved

Portmore's Carlington Smith was deadly on Sunday and will punish any defence in the league. His strike partner, Steven Morrissey, looks physically improved this season and will be equally dangerous against Arnett.

However, the Junglists love big home games and Portmore can't afford to let down their guard especially with the veteran Kevin 'Pele' Wilson in good form.

Meadhaven await Sporting Central at Drewsland, as their match was moved from unapproved Constant Spring. Keammar Daley continues to be their inspiration, scoring the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at Tivoli on Sunday.

Sporting Central were awful travellers last season, losing eight of 18 away games, and could be surprised by the promoted youngsters at Drewsland.

Boys' Town travel to Village United and must be given the nod against the homesters, who could not have asked for a more terrible start after being flogged by Harbour View.

Village beat Boys' Town 3-0 at the Elliston Wakeland Centre last season, but were on a roll under coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis and are not expected to reproduce that form.

Tivoli had Reno's ticket all of last season, winning three of three, but the homesters should keep them honest and are not to be ruled out despite losing 2-1 at Sporting Central on Sunday.

Home ground advantage for promoted Rivoli, against Waterhouse should hardly make any difference. Waterhouse are expected to outclass the men from Spanish Town and make-up for their last-minute heartbreak at home against St. Georges.

Games On

Rivoli vs Waterhouse at 4:00 p.m.

Meadhaven vs Sporting Central at 3:30

Arnett Gardens vs Portmore at 5:00

St Georges vs Harbour View at 3:30

Reno vs Tivoli at 3:30

Village vs Boys' Town at 3:30

St Georges' Daniel Shaw (right). - file

STANDINGS

P W D L GF GA GD PTS

Harbour View 1 1 1 0 0 0 4 3

Portmore 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3

Sp. Central 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3

Boys' Town 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3

Tivoli 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

Meadhaven 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

Waterhouse 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

St Georges 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

Reno 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0

Arnett 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0

Rivoli 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

Village 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0