Ainsley Walters, STAR Writer

TEAMS in the top half of the Digicel Premier League, barring St Georges, are all at home tomorrow afternoon, hoping to maintain their positions in the early going of the second round.

St Georges, who tumbled from third to fifth after a 5-0 whipping at leaders Harbour View on Wednesday, face another tough away match, tackling second-place Tivoli Gardens at the Edward Seaga Stadium, starting at 5 p.m.

stamp authority

The teams played to a 0-0 draw at Lynch Park in the first round but Tivoli dominated the Portlanders in Kingston last season and, similar to Harbour View, will want to stamp their authority on the second-season team.

Harbour View continue to hold Tivoli at bay atop the standings, two clear on 29 points, and face promoted Meadhaven at Compound after a 2-1 win first-round win at Constant Spring.

Meadhaven, one of five teams within a three-point spread from the foot of the standings, have lost more than half of their games this season, seven, whereas Harbour View have lost just twice and must start favourites at home.

The leaders have been moving like a well-oiled machine, conceding a meagre six goals in 13 games, one of the best defensive records in local Premier League history.

Their 23 goals, spread all around the team, spell trouble for Meadhaven, whose epicentre is Keammar Daley. However, with the no-nonsense Richard Edwards to contend with in midfield, Daley will be hard-pressed to marshall any attack against Harbour View.

With a defence which has already let in 22 goals, one shy of a league-leading tally, Meadhaven could leave Compound as battered as St Georges in midweek with the likes of Kavin Bryan, Lovel Palmer and company in goal-scoring form.

Third-place Boys' Town are dying to regain second spot from Tivoli, who bumped them on the final day of the first round, costing them their spot in the first bonus final. The Red Brigade are at home to Reno after taking apart Village 3-0 at Collie Smith Drive Wednesday.

typical

Back-to-back home matches against teams from the lower half of the table should have Denzil Watson, George Vernal, Michael Campbell and company licking their chops, while hoping St Georges spring a fast one on rivals Tivoli at the other side of Spanish Town Road.

Reno have not won a match on the road all season, losing four times, including a 2-0 loss at Tivoli on Wednesday. Boys' Town are typical west Kingston players, attacking, skilful and fiercely proud at home, a bad mix for Reno.

Defending champions Portmore, fourth on goal difference over St Georges, await Village at Ferdie Neita Park after clipping Arnett Gardens 1-0 Wednesday.

'tegat' davis

Village have lost five of their last six games. Not even a change of coach, 'Tegat' Davis in charge of their last two games, appears to be able to turn their fortunes.

A trip to Portmore with whom they drew 1-1 in the first round, especially with Roen Nelson back at Ferdie Neita Park from Trinidad and Tobago, could spell trouble for eighth-place Village, who are only two points above last-place Rivoli.

However, Portmore are often guilty of indifferent form at home and with Fabian Dawkins on the prowl in Village's forward line, the defending champs can't afford to skip a beat at home.

Sixth-place Waterhouse, who won 3-0 at home, beating up on last-place Rivoli, Wednesday, face tougher opponents in Arnett Gardens at Drewsland. Marco McDonald has been assigned sweeper duties in a 5-3-2 formation to shore up defensive woes which plagued the Drewsland men in the first round and they kept a clean sheet last time out.

However, Arnett, with their wide midfielders cutting in from the flanks, could cause problems for the homesters.

It will be a caustic matchup as Arnett have lost four of their last five games with the sheen of Fabian Davis being coach-player wearing off somewhat.

Jermaine Anderson remains the man to watch upfront for Waterhouse, whereas former Junglist Jonathan Williams enjoys sneaking in on rivals at the back post. Kevin Lamey needs no introduction, and him coming off the bench almost guarantees a Waterhouse goal.

Arnett, however, have a had a woeful time in front goal this season, scoring just five times, less than half scored by last-place Sporting Central.

At the foot of the table, Sporting Central are at home against Rivoli. A win for either could very well mean a jump close to mid-table. Rivoli gets the nod on the road after their 1-0 win in the first round. Devon Hodges is tipped to be their trump card.

Games on:

Harbour View vs Meadhaven at 6:30

Tivoli vs St Georges at 5:00

Boys' Town vs Reno at 3:00

Portmore vs Village at 4:00

Waterhouse vs Arnett at 5:30

Sporting Central vs Rivoli at 3:00