JUST ONE WEEK into the 2011 season, today’s matches in the Barbados Football Association’s Digicel Premier League will be contested at the open grounds at Bridgefield, St Thomas and Friendship, Hothersal Turning, St Michael.
With the National Stadium unavailable because of the annual Louis Lynch Athletic Championships, there will be a triple header at Friendship where early giant-killers St John Sonnets will oppose Ice Wales in the feature match at 8 p.m.
When the action kicks off at 4 p.m. Mackeson Brittons Hill, smarting from their first match 2-1 loss to Sonnets will be aiming to rebound against a Pride of Gall Hill side, buoyed by a 2-0 victory over Ellerton.
The 6 p.m. clash at Friendship features two of the most successful clubs in the last two decades with defending champions Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame up against Paradise.
The Dames, despite winning their opening match 2-1 against Bagatelle, had to soak up plenty of pressure against the Premiership debutants.
The experienced Rudy Grosvenor came off the bench to score a majestic injury time winning goal and should start tonight.
Paradise, who experimented with coach/player Kent Hall at sweeper, must review this decision as Jonathan Straker and Mark Cox seem to be better options. Hall should consider playing in his usual midfield position, alongside Karl Cole, probably taking the place of Trevor Mayers.
Young striker Armando Lashley looked purposeful in his first match and could be joined in the starting line-up by Marcus Marshall in trying to penetrate the experienced Dames’ defence of John “Nobby” Parris, Rommell Brathwaite, Bryan Neblett and Philip King.
For Dames, the skillful Maradona Lavine needs to be more clinical up front but his biggest problem seems to be deciding where to shoot from, as he tends to hold onto the ball too much when he tries to dribble past the defence.
Over at Bridgefield at 4 p.m., Bagatelle, with their host of new signings, will battle with Pinelands, who will be hoping that the likes of Peter Stoute, Lionel Paul and Dario Wilson can produce goals following the goalless draw with Wales.
In the second match at 6 p.m., Youth Milan, fresh from a solid 2-1 win against Paradise, will be favoured for their second successive victory when they meet an Ellerton team, that will be without captain Alvin Holder, who was the first player to be sent off for the season.
Milan’s long-serving striker Kenroy Skinner looks a rejuvenated player and with Norman Forde pulling the strings in midfield, the Checker Hall, St Lucy team, could have another enjoyable night.
