Harbour View bag last JPL playoff spot
Published:Monday | June 13, 2022 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Tivoli Gardens defeated Cavalier 1-0 in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) final-round game at the UWI-Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday but failed to secure the final playoff spot after Harbour View held Dunbeholden to a 1-1 draw and Humble Lion defeated Molynes 3-0.
Tivoli, Harbour View, and Humble Lion all ended the preliminary stage with 28 points, but Harbour View bagged the all-important sixth spot with a plus-three goal difference. Humble Lion are seventh with plus-one goal difference and Tivoli eighth with a minus-one goal difference.
Rodrico Wellington’s ninth-minute effort was enough to give Tivoli all three points against Cavalier. Wellington, who was scoring his sixth goal of the season, beat Jaedine White with an attempted cross that deceived the goalkeeper and landed into the top far corner.
Cavalier created a few good chances after the break and should have had an equaliser, but good work from goalkeeper Nathaniel Francis kept the defending champions at bay.
Tivoli’s coach Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey said he knew it was always going to be tough as they allowed their destiny to slip from their hands a few weeks ago.
PROVEN
“I believe one point is better than none. And it was proven today because some of those games that we gave up all three points came back to haunt us.
“The game that really damaged us was the Waterhouse game. That three points would have proven monstrous today. Also when we lost against Arnett Gardens on June 5, we knew it would be an uphill task.
“Harbour View only needed a point, but we also needed to outscore Humble Lion. So on two sides we put ourselves in hot water. But they (players) came here today and performed and got the three points. Things didn’t turn in our favour in terms of the results in the other games, but we came here and gave it our all, and we only have ourselves to blame,” he said. Bailey, however, added that they were happy to end the league with a win.
Cavalier’s assistant coach, David Laylor, said the result did not change anything for them.
“This game didn’t have an impact. It didn’t shift our position in the table. We would have preferred not to lose, but the main focus was the look at the youngsters to see which one could help us in the final stretch. So we are pleased,” he said.
Harbour View join Waterhouse, Dunbeholden, Arnett Gardens, Mount Pleasant, and Cavalier in the playoffs.
In other games yesterday, Waterhouse clipped Arnett 3-2, Vere edged Montego Bay United 1-0, and Mount Pleasant beat Portmore 1-0.