HARBOUR VIEW could not have asked for a more challenging match, hosting Boys' Town at Compound, now that they have been joined by champions Portmore United atop the Digicel Premier League standings.

Back-to-back draws against Rivoli and Reno wiped out Harbour View's four-point lead atop the table, allowing Portmore to pull level on 34 points after the champions swamped newcomers Meadhaven 3-0 at Ferdie Neita Park.

The absence of Brazilian coach Waldemar de Oliveira for both games exposed Harbour View's underbelly, which fourth-place Boys' Town are hoping to breach after falling 1-0 at home to the leaders in the first round.

However, de Oliveira is back in town and Harbour View manager Clyde Jureidini said it was the brilliance of Reno's goalie who saved Jermaine Hue's penalty to deny his team a win.

"We missed a penalty in our last game and that threw off the team a little. Their goalkeeper did very well. He had a fantastic game in which he broke his hand. He was exceptional and that denied us."

Against Boys' Town, who are close enough on 30 points, Jureidini said Harbour View will be doing nothing different than what they have done all season.

"We're looking to accumulate points," he said. "Boys' Town are close and we're trying to keep doing well, especially at home. In addition, the nature of a traditional Harbour View-Boys' Town game, both teams would want to win."

Tough Boys' Town edged Rivoli 1-0 off Peter Keyes' 12th-minute cracker at Collie Smith Drive in their last match.

slick outfit

The Red Brigade is a slick outfit and could make the leaders pay for any cracks in Harbour View's defence.

Defending champions Portmore United travel to Brancourt as joint leaders this afternoon to play last-place Sporting Central after jumping from third place in the standings last Sunday.

Striker Roen Nelson netted his sixth goal in five games, opening the scoring for Portmore in a 3-0 win over promoted Meadhaven at Ferdie Neita Park.

Sporting Central were beaten 1-0 at Brancourt by St Georges off Daniel Shaw's 31st-minute penalty.

Portmore's big jump pulled them level on 34 points with Harbour View, whereas Sporting Central crashed to yet another loss.

Even though at home, Sporting Central have it all to do against Nelson, his strike partner Steven Morrissey and Ricardo Cousins, who completed the rout against Meadhaven last Sunday with goals of their own.

Harbour View, who went into their home match against Reno with 33 points, emerged with a point after a goalless draw at Compound, allowing Portmore to pull level.

However, Harbour View still lead Portmore on goal difference, keeping them atop the standings, over the men from Ferdie Neita Park.

Third-place Tivoli were second on goal difference behind Harbour View last week but were pushed down the order to third by Portmore. On Sunday, the west Kingston men fell 2-1 at home to Arnett Gardens, beaten by the Junglists for the second time this season.

With Boys' Town snapping at their heels, a point away on 30, Tivoli travel to Waterhouse against Kevin Lamey and company for what should be a caustic match-up.

Fabian Davis led from in front for Arnett, scoring in the 20th minute. Craig Stewart cancelled Arnett's lead 12 minutes later but Kevin 'Pele' Wilson netted two minutes from time to hand the Junglists back-to-back wins, moving them to 18 points.

Sixth-place Waterhouse drew 1-1 with Village United, squandering chances as they allowed the Trelawny men to come from behind at Drewsland.

men to watch

Lamey and Jonathan Williams sparked for Waterhouse against Village and will again be the men to watch.

Tivoli could come face to face with former teammate Marco McDonald in a suspect defence, which the likes of Navion Boyd and Roland Dean could demolish.

Elsewhere this afternoon, Reno should be happy with their 0-0 away draw at Harbour View last week and are not to be underestimated at home against seventh-place Arnett Gardens.

Gary McIntosh is Reno's danger man up front. He is speedy and packs a big kick. Arnett Gardens, having their attacking options varied with the acquisition of five players through the transfer window, scored two goals in a match for the first time this season, beating third-place Tivoli, and could be coming into their own.

Rivoli against Village should be centred around two strikers, Rivoli's Devon Hodges and Village's Fabian Dawkins.

Hodges is any coach's dream player, a goalscorer, whereas Dawkins' dribbling skills earn Village free-kicks around the top of the box.

Only a point separates the teams, 10th-place Village with 13 and Rivoli one ahead, locked on 14 with Reno but holding a better goal average.

Tomorrow's games

Waterhouse vs Tivoli Gardens at 5:30 p.m.

Meadhaven vs St Georges at 3 p.m.

Reno vs Arnett Gardens at 3 p.m.

Sporting Central vs Portmore at 3 p.m.

Rivoli vs Village at 4 p.m.

Harbour View vs Boys' Town at 6:30 p.m.