Mount Pleasant, Harbour View expect fireworks

LEAGUE LEADERS Mount Pleasant and defending champion Harbour View headline this weekend’s round of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) matches at Drax Hall at 3:15 p.m., and both coaches are expecting a titanic clash.

Mount Pleasant lead the standings, four points clear of Arnett Gardens and nine ahead of Harbour View in fifth.

Theodore Whitmore’s Mount Pleasant dropped rare points last weekend after they had to settle for a 0-0 draw against lowly Faulkland FC, and he anticipates an even more difficult match against a team searching for consistency.

“We recently played Faulkland and it was a ding-dong battle. So every team is playing for three points now. So it is going to be critical from here how we handle it.

“Two good teams are playing each other, so just come out and expect a good showdown,” he said.

The St Ann club won nine and drew three of their 12 matches in the first round, tasting defeat only once.

However, Whitmore insists that is behind them, and the aim is to maintain their form this round.

“First of all, we have to put the first round behind us. It is not how you start, but how you finish. We are leading now but, by the end of the round, we do not know where we can end up, so consistency is going to be the key,” the former national player said.

Harbour View has been slowly losing momentum after their fine start to the season, which saw them leading the league at one point.

However, two wins in their last nine tells a story of the way their season has nose-dived since their 6-1 win over Faulkland in December.

The frustration of the season hit a climax two weekends ago when members of the Harbour View camp were embroiled in a fracas with members of the security forces in a 1-0 defeat to Vere United but coach Ludlow Bernard said the ordeal will serve as motivation for his team.

Motivated or not, Bernard believes Mount Pleasant to be a formidable opponent for which his side must be prepared.

“At this level, in order to maintain the performance, you have to be consistent week in, week out and, in this concern, we are struggling.

“Mount Pleasant versus Harbour View is always an interesting and entertaining game that fans anticipate highly.

“We are sure that Mount Pleasant will come with their particular tactics, and we have to ensure that we have answers. Hopefully, we can find the solutions to get by them, but it won’t be easy,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Humble Lion vs Molynes at Effortville at 3 p.m.

Portmore vs Arnett at Ferdie Neita Park at 3 p.m.

Waterhouse vs MoBay at Drewsland at 4 p.m.

Dunbeholden vs Faulkland at Drax Hall at 1 p.m.

Harbour View vs Mount Pleasant at Drax Hall at 3:15 p.m.

Monday Games

Chapelton vs Tivoli at 5 p.m. at JC Ashenheim Stadium

Cavalier vs Vere at 7.30 p.m. at JC Ashenheim Stadium