Barbican, Mount Pleasant in hot clash
Barbican will look to maintain their lead atop the Magnum/Charley’s JB/JFF Premier League promotion playoff series, against highly fancied Mount Pleasant Football Academy at Drax Hall, St Ann, at 4 p.m.
The Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Super League champions are early leaders in the four-team playoff series for two spots in next season’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).
Barbican, who are on four points from two games, will play away to third-place Mount Pleasant FA (three) in a crucial clash to finish the first round.
Having won away against Wadadah last Sunday, Barbican will hunt another victory on the road. And Barbican coach, Wayne Campbell, says that although they will be without influential captain Ramone ‘Passa’ McGregor, who picked up a red card last Wednesday against Dunbeholden, his team will be pushing for a positive result.
“We always aim to play positive football and this is not the first time we have had to organise our defence with the captain out. The thing about this team is that they always find a way to win games.” Campbell told STAR Sports ahead of the game.
“Our team has depth and quality. It won’t be easy playing away to Mount Pleasant, but the game we played last Wednesday that ended 0-0 against Dunbeholden showed us what we need to adjust going forward,” he added.
CLOSER TO QUALIFICATION
Barbican will rely on goalkeeper Nicholas Campbell, central defender Mario McDonald, midfielder Andrew Christie, and striker Shaquille Lewis to move them closer to qualification.
Mount Pleasant, powered by the financial power of Englishman Peter Gould, is highly fancied to make the step to the Premier League. However, they suffered a setback against Dunbeholden, but recovered with a 1-0 win against Wadadah last Wednesday.
Now, the St Ann team, who are the Eastern Confederation champions, will look for another win at Drax Hall in order to move up in the points table.
The Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis-coached team will depend on striker Kesslan Hall, captain Devon Hodges, midfielder Latroy Laing and defender Rupert Murray for victory.
In the other play-off game on the day, Dunbeholden, who are also on four points, will meet Wadadah, who are without a point after two games.