Hungry Arnett go points hunting in Drewsland
FOR THE first time in many moons, the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) will hold a full slate of Sunday matches. The highlights of the round will be the crosstown rivalry between Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens at Drewsland at 4 p.m. and the matchup between second-place Mount Pleasant and third-place Tivoli at Drax Hall at 3:30 p.m.
Fifth-place Arnett come into the fixture eight points clear of Waterhouse in sixth, and will start as favourites based on their more consistent run of form.
However, the Xavier Gilbertcoached team has failed to win their last two matches.
It is only the second time this season that the Junglists have gone two matches without a win, but the last time that happened, they went on a six-match unbeaten run that included five wins.
As a result, Waterhouse should be wary that Arnett will be hungry for a positive result.
Waterhouse are coming off a win against Vere, but Marcel Gayle’s team have yet to display that level of consistency to be considered title challengers.
While they won their last game, joint leading scorer, Javane Bryan, was wasteful in front of goal. Assistant coach Damion Gordon expects the striker to return to his best for this mega matchup.
“He is shouldering a lot of responsibility. But we just have to encourage him. He is a good player, a quality player and he has shown that he has taken his chances well in this league. [Last Sunday] he was a little bit off but next game hopefully he can convert those chances,” said Gordon.
It has been 15 games since Waterhouse last won back-to-back matches, and if they should follow true to form it is unlikely that they will get three points, despite playing at home.
At Drax Hall, there will be very little difference between Mount Pleasant and Tivoli Gardens.
Mount Pleasant have rediscovered some of their early season form and are now on a seven-match unbeaten stretch.
Daniel Green, Kimoni Bailey, Shaquile Bradford and Devonte Campbell have been in good form of late and should give the Tivoli defence a real test.
Tivoli’s unbeaten run has only stretch five matches, but they have won their last three games, something Mount Pleasant have not done since their six-game undefeated start to the season.
Tivoli have scored eight in their last five and conceded just twice. While Mount Pleasant have scored seven in five games but have let in four goals.
Mount Pleasant coach Theodore Whitmore said although they conceded early in their last game against Harbour View, they showed resilience to come back and get the win. However, he emphasised the importance of getting three points on Sunday.
“We cannot afford to be slipping away. So we have to continue winning,” he said.
Meanwhile, leaders Cavalier will look to stretch their unbeaten streak to 12 matches when they host 10th place Vere at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 4 p.m.
After their first point in 12 games last weekend, second from bottom Treasure Beach will hunt another positive result when they entertain Molynes, who are unbeaten in three, at STETHS at 3:30 p.m.
Dunbeholden would have been disappointed about dropping points to Treasure Beach last week, and will be hoping to avoid a repeat when they face bottom-of-the-table Lime Hall in the opening game at Drax Hall at 1 p.m.
The Lenworth Hyde-coached team are just two points outside the top six, and should Waterhouse fail to win, they could join them on points or surpass them in the standing.
Fourth-place Portmore, who are unbeaten in 10 games, will get the edge over ninth-place Harbour View, who are still far from their best this season, at the Ferdie Neita Complex at 3:30 p.m.
While, Montego Bay United will also start favourites over a Humble Lion team that have taken a mere four points from their last eight games, when they meet at Wespow Park at 3:30 p.m.
Cavalier lead the table with 40 points, followed by Mount Pleasant on 39, Tivoli, 37, Portmore, 36, Arnett, 34, Waterhouse, 26, Dunbeholden, 24, and MoBay, 23.