File photo: Rafiek Thomas on the ball for Boys Town
The first edition of Red Stripe Football Mondays for 2015 promises to provide a treat as hot as the beer will cold at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex tonight when Arnett Gardens and neighbours Boys Town meet for the fourth time in all competitions this season.
The Collie Smith Derby, as this matchup is commonly referred to, is set to sizzle as both teams head into the game in confident mood. The game is set for a 9 o’clock kick off and the stands are expected to be filled to capacity before the first whistle.
Boys Town defeated arch rivals and third place Harbour View in their last outing of 2014 to finally escape the clutches of the relegation zone and will be desperate to carry over that form into the New Year and continue their climb away from trouble.
Rafiek Thomas has been the man to lead the Red Brigade and his 9 goals makes him the league’s third deadliest marksman. Despite the lowly position of his club, Thomas has remained consistent in front of goal and will need to report ready for action as his strike partner, schoolboy Shamar Nicholson, is a part of the Jamaica Under-20 squad currently preparing for the World Cup qualifiers, which begins as the National Stadium on Friday.
While goal scoring has been the responsibility of primarily two players at Boys Town, the premier league form team, Arnett Gardens has had a number of scorers, borne out by the fact that they have scored the most goals in the competition so far for a total of 31 in 16 games.
Leon Strickland hit a brace last match day as the ‘Junglists’ blew away former leaders Waterhouse 3-1 at Drewsland to complete their first win on that ground in almost four years. It was the second brace of the season for Strickland who has had great support from the likes of Andrew Phang who has caught fire at the same time that the Jerome Waite team has gone on a six game win streak.
Both coaches know how the other thinks and there are no secrets between the two sets of players.
Xavian Virgo, Garfield Gillespie, Michael Campbell and Marvin Stewart will carry the burden for the Andrew Price coached outfit that relishes playing against the neighbours under lights.
Boys Town has defeated Arnett twice at the ‘Complex’ this season in the Flow Champions Cup and the Jackie Bell Knock Out competitions and will view tonight’s game as just another day at the office.
Arnett may have stuttered in the knock out competitions, but has been impressive in the league and will be coming with all guns blazing with the added incentive of returning to the summit of the league after champions Montego Bay United were held by Barbican yesterday.
Dicoy Williams and Oniel Thompson has forged a good partnership in central defence and that stability at the back has given the midfield the license to bomb forward in the hunt for goals. Renae Lloyd and Andre C lennon has been in good form and the return of the ever dangerous Marvin ‘Missa-man’ Morgan from injury has added even more dimension to the Arnett attack.
Goals can be expected from this encounter which will not be for the faint of heart.
Winning this game will come down to who wants it the most and the coaches will have very little to do to get their teams up for this mouth-watering contest.
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