Early goals the key to JPL final berth
Published:Wednesday | June 29, 2022 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
HARBOUR VIEW stand on the brink of another upset in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) play-offs, as they take a 1-0 lead into today’s semi-final second leg against Waterhouse at Sabina Park at 5 p.m.
The Stars of the East’s coach Ludlow Bernard is eyeing an early goal to put the tie further out of the reach of, what he expects will be a very dangerous, Waterhouse team.
“The ideal thing will be to get an early one and we are going for it,” he said.
“We needed precision in front of goal, that has been killing us but come Wednesday we hope to hold it off.
“We need to keep our composure and stick to whatever plan we come up with. They have good players and experienced players that can turn the screws, so we have to be very mindful.
“We have been showing the consistency and I am pretty confident based on their (players) confidence, they (our team) can get the job done.”
Waterhouse assistant coach Daniel Bent said his team appeared match rusty on Sunday but that they know what must be done.
“We lost that competitive edge going two weeks without competition. Come Wednesday, we believe we can correct what needs to be corrected and with a different approach try and see what we can do to get into the final.
QUALITY TEAM
“We need to start on the front foot and be in their faces and try to put away our chances. Waterhouse is a quality team all around so we are looking to get back and go on and see if we can go to the final,” he said.
In the other semi-final at 7:30 p.m., Dunbeholden also take a 1-0 lead into their match against Cavalier.
Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid said they will have to take their chances when they come.
“A little fatigue has set in so we will have to freshen up the squad. But it is not out of sight as yet, it is just one nil so we have everything to play for.
“We will attack. We will have to get that one first to get back in the game and see what happens,” he said.
Dunbeholden coach Harold Thomas says once they focus on playing football they should be okay.
“We got caught in some issues that were not football issues. The red card (first leg) was not a football issue. It was not a tackle or a hand ball and you got into a fight when you were not even in the picture when it started and ended up getting a red card. So it must be the mentality but we will get over the line,” he said.