Fri | Mar 29, 2024

Molynes look to stay on track

Published:Sunday | December 29, 2019 | 12:00 AMNodley Wright - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Fitzgerald

Fresh from their first win in 13 games, their first under Calvert Fitzgerald in his fifth game in charge, the promoted Molynes United must be brimming with confidence ahead of their clash with second-year team Dunbeholden United in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).

The early season pacesetters, who started with six wins from their first six games only to stumble to a draw in their seventh against Harbour View, were winless until their 2-1 win over leaders and beaten finalists for the past two years, Waterhouse. Predictably, the win has put them in good spirits for today’s clash.

“The win against Waterhouse has definitely given them a lot of confidence. When you haven’t won in 12, you will be low on confidence,” Fitzgerald said explaining the impact of the win on his team.

Despite all the good feelings following the win, Fitzgerald said there is still work to be done.

“It is still work in progress as we made a lot of mistakes in that game. When I went there and saw the team, I saw that they had good players but the fitness was low. There were also some division, and my first task was to unify the team and get them playing as one,” explained the experienced and much-travelled coach.

He continued: “My plan was to get the team playing the way I wanted to at the turn of the year, and anything before that would be a bonus. I would say they have been responding as every game we have been playing better, and we expect that to continue.”

Like Molynes United, Dunbeholden had an excellent result the last time they played and should be positive as well.

SATISFYING WIN

“We are just coming off a satisfying win beating the third-place team at their home, but Molynes can also say the same thing as they beat the two-time losing finalists and leaders at their home,” said club executive Paul Christie.

While he wants and expects his team to win, Christie made it clear that they will be taking nothing for granted.

“We have to show up. We cannot come with a half-hearted approach expecting a positive result.

“This league is very simple. If you show up and perform, you will get the result, but if you don’t, you will get the sucker punch. Any team can beat any team on any given day. The team that turns up most prepared will win.

“There are no super teams. A look at the table will show that, and if you follow the results, you will see that,” outlined Christie, who does the RSPL circuit watching at least three games each week depending on where his team plays.

At Stadium East, home team Cavalier should be buoyed by their win over second-place Mount Pleasant Academy away from home, while Waterhouse will be looking to remind all that they are the leaders.

Vere United are looking like relegation favourites, but they are not prepared to give up the fight. Home advantage should be of some benefit to them, but Tivoli Gardens have some wrong to right after squandering numerous chances against 11th-place UWI FC and having to rely on fortune to end on even terms last week,

Harbour View will be at home to Portmore United, but should have no home comforts if the likes of Cory Burke, the competition’s leading scorer, reports in his usual form in concert with Rondee Smith and company.

After being humbled at home last week by Dunbeholden, Arnett Gardens will be heading into the lion’s den for an encounter with Humble Lion. The Clarendon-based team climbed above Arnett Gardens last week after a 1-0 win over Harbour View. The fact that they are only separated by goal difference, should make this encounter even more combative.

Today’s Games

- 3 p.m. Molynes United FC vs Dunbeholden FC @ Constant Spring Stadium

- 3 p.m. Vere United FC vs Tivoli Gardens FC @ Wembley Centre of Excellence

- 5 p.m. Humble Lion FC vs Arnett Gardens FC @ Effortville Community Centre

- 7 p.m. Harbour View FC vs Portmore United FC @ Harbour View Stadium

- 8 p.m. Cavalier FC vs Waterhouse FC @ Stadium East

Tomorrow’s Game

- 8 p.m. UWI FC vs Mount Pleasant FA @ Anthony Spaulding Complex