JPL Best & Worst - Weeks 6 & 7
BEST TIVOLI GARDENS
Tivoli Gardens needed lategame heroics for big results the past two weeks. Devroy Gray’s goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time salvaged a 1-1 draw with Cavalier on August 1 and then last Saturday, Asprellia Alexander made it a professional debut to remember with two late goals to sink Harbour View 3-1. And with that result, they are in sixth place with nine points and in the playoff positions, a similar situation to where they were in 2019-20 before the season was stopped.
VERE UNITED
An adjusted kick-off with lessthan- ideal preparations were among the concerns Vere United coach had in their 2- 1 defeat to Dunbeholden on August 1, ending their unbeaten run. But they quickly put that result in their rearview mirror, defeating Arnett Gardens 1- 0 on Monday, while taking advantage of Portmore United’s defeat on the weekend. They now lead the league with 14 points, one above secondplace Portmore and two above their other nearest challengers, Mount Pleasant. With the regular season slowly winding down, Vere will have to stay the course to ensure they get a first- round play- off bye.
MOLYNES UNITED
It took them six tries, but Molynes United finally achieved their first win of the season last Saturday against Humble Lion, much to the delight and relief of head coach Anthony Patrick. It’s a welcome three points for the club, who are now in ninth place with six points and still in the play-off hunt.
MOUNT PLEASANT
Mount Pleasant made use of their bye week and managed to record a 1-0 win over Portmore United, which sees them move up to third place with 11 points, three points adrift of leaders Vere United and two points closer to Portmore, who are now in second place. The race for the top two will be very close as we get to the business end of the regular season.
DUNBEHOLDEN
Dunbeholden got a muchneeded win over Vere United on August 1, and although there has been movement in the table during their bye week, with their ranking dropping to seventh, they are still tied on points (nine) with Tivoli Gardens, Cavalier and Harbour View. Having started the season with two straight defeats, Dunbeholden are in a great position to get one of the play-off spots. But given how tight the table is, every game from this point on will be crucial.
WORST HUMBLE LION
Humble Lion finally managed to get their first win of the new season on July 31, a 2-1 victory over Waterhouse and last week against Molynes United. Head coach Andrew Price said it was the best he has seen his team play all year. So it had to be frustrating when Nicholas Nelson’s 88thminute free kick doomed the Clarendon- based club to their sixth defeat of the season. The three points from two weeks ago give them still a mathematical chance of stealing a play-off spot, but they have to go for broke now. Draws will not be enough.
WATERHOUSE
Waterhouse are unbeaten no more, as Humble Lion dealt them their first loss of the season two weeks ago. But while they have picked up points this season, they haven’t had the best luck of turning draws into wins. Currently in eighth place with seven points, they are still within striking distance of the top six. But wins will be required, and quickly, to put themselves in a more comfortable position.
ARNETT GARDENS
Arnett Gardens are another club that can see their fortunes change with a string of wins. Having started their season last, they are now in 10th place with four points and still within a shot of the postseason after their 1-0 loss to Vere. But wins have to come now for the ‘Junglists’, and they will have a tough task facing a Portmore team looking to avenge last week’s lost to Mount Pleasant.
HARBOUR VIEW
Harbour View will not be pleased after conceding yet another late goal that has denied them a positive result. Portmore United got a late equaliser to force a 1- 1 draw two weeks ago, and then last Saturday, two late goals resulted in a 3-1 loss to Tivoli Gardens. Harbour View have only picked up one point in the last three games, and with the table as tight as it is, they cannot afford to have a drop in form.