Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Portmore United's Ricardo Cousins (left) in action against St. Georges United in an early-season match. Cousins scored a stunning goal on Sunday to earn his team victory in the end-of-round final. - Ian Allen

IT'S the rematch of the season, first-round winners Portmore United against back-to-form Waterhouse, the only team to have beaten the league leaders in 12 Cash Plus Premier League games.

Portmore United's Ferdie Neita Park will be the venue for tomorrow's showdown, one of six games, which pits six-point leaders Portmore against joint fourth-place Waterhouse, who trail the homesters by 10 in the standings.

Waterhouse won the teams' first-round clash at Drewsland, edging nine-man Portmore 1-0 off a Jomo Gordon penalty kick.

However, Portmore have not looked back since, going on an unbeaten streak which took them straight to the first-round final, where they edged Tivoli Gardens 1-0 before starting the second round with a 2-0 away victory against promoted Sporting Central on Wednesday.

Waterhouse, who floundered under coach Danilo Barigo for most of the first round, have gone unbeaten in three games since the Peruvian was shown the door at Drewsland.

The return of coach Wayne Fairclough, who pulled off an amazing chase of Harbour View to win the 2005-2006 Premier League title with Waterhouse, has apparently reignited the men from Drewsland, especially striker Kevin Lamey, who netted the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Seba United on Wednesday.

With Waterhouse badly needing points to pull closer to the leaders, Fairclough made it clear that his team will come out firing on all cylinders tomorrow.

"Similar to Waterhouse, Portmore is a highly motivated and tactically prepared team. This is a team we must not take lightly and I believe we need to show them we can repeat our first-round win," he said.

"We need to give a good account of ourselves to stay in touch. We need to get a favourable result and we are going there to play some good football as the spirit is high in the camp," Fairclough added.

Portmore coach Linval Dixon admitted Waterhouse will be tough to beat but said his side is ready.

"Waterhouse are good, a hard-working team, whether home or away," he reasoned. "They are always tough to play against but we are ready for the challenge, mentally and physically.

"We are a bit drained after playing the first-round final on Sunday, then starting the second round on Wednesday, but we have got in some rest and are prepared for the challenge."

Both coaches will have healthy squads to call on but Fairclough was particularly happy with veteran utility player Damion Powell, who has assisted on two goals since regaining a spot in the squad.

"Damion is an excellent player," he said. "He is knowledgeable player and his wealth of experience helps the team despite his age and conditioning."

Meanwhile, Dixon said he was glad one of his strikers finally came good on Wednesday when Carlos Barrett netted in a 2-0 win over Sporting Central.

"I am not worried as we're still working on the forwards," said Dixon, whose side has been depending on its midfielders in most games so far this season.

"To get one from Barrett is a plus and must be motivation for him," Dixon added.

Defence will be key in this showdown between attacking teams. Portmore have only let in six goals this season whereas Waterhouse have conceded goals in all but two games this season.

However, with the stakes high tomorrow, Desmond Breakenridge and Roger Rodney will be two tough central defenders against Portmore's physically unimpressive strike pair of Barrett and Steven Morrissey.

In other games, second-place Tivoli Gardens will travel to relegation-zone side August Town as favourites whereas defending champions Harbour View, still stung from Wednesday's loss at promoted St. Georges, should rebound at home against Reno.

Third-place St. Georges will be aiming to transfer their home form to the Elliston-Wakeland Centre against last-place Village.

The Arnett Gardens-Sporting Central showdown at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex could go either way, considering the teams had battled to a 0-0 draw at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in the first round.

Games On

Portmore vs Waterhouse at 3 p.m.

August Town vs Tivoli Gardens at 3 p.m.

Village vs St. Georges at 3 p.m.

Arnett Gardens vs Sporting Central at 5 p.m.

Harbour View vs Reno at 6:30