Cavalier, Harbour View hungry for top-two spot

IN-FORM teams Cavalier Soccer Club and defending champions Harbour View Football Club are expected to square off in what is expected to be a close and enticing affair in the opening match of a double-header at Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College, in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL). Match time is 5:30 p.m.

Even though both teams are coming off a draw in their last game, the two have been unbeaten in over five matches and the coaches anticipate a thrilling encounter.

“It’s a tough one,” Harbour View’s coach Ludlow Bernard told The Sunday Gleaner. “They are an in-form team, a goalscoring threat. We really expect a tough game and we have to pull out all the stops.”

Harbour View are fourth in the table with 33 points, four adrift second-place Cavalier, and five less than leaders Arnett Gardens. Third-place Mount Pleasant Academy, fifth-place Waterhouse FC and Humble Lion round off the top six.

Bernard admitted that they need all points from the encounter as their intention is to finish among the top two.

“We want to get some points. And if we want to be the top team, we have to beat the best,” he said. “Cavalier is one of the teams we have to go after to stake a claim to be the best in the land.”

DEFENCE WILL BE KEY

Despite how efficient the teams have been over the last few games, Bernard believes defence will be key.

“We seem to be in good goalscoring form. Goals seem to come from multiple sources, but we are not playing the perfect game as yet, and against a free-flowing attacking team we have to be stronger defensively to get the better of this team,” he said.

Cavalier SC’s technical director, Rudolph Speid, is pleased with his team’s return to form. However, with Richard King on national duties, Shaniel Thomas out injured and Ronaldo Robinson ineligible to play against his parent club, Speid noted that they are a little short. Nevertheless, he said that he will continue to rely on youngsters like Omarion Henry, Adrian Reid, Rajay Authers, Christopher Ainsworth and Brian Elshot to answer the call.

“Harbour View is also running into some serious form too. So it is two of the best form teams,” Speid observed. “There is also a battle at the top for the two coveted spaces. So the three points is so important.”

In the play-off for the championship, the two top teams in preliminary play earn a bye, while teams placed three to six play off to get into a top-four play-off.

“Other teams are trying to get on terms with the top three and Harbour View is trying to do that,” Speid noted. “Both teams have very good chances and the margin in this match is going to be very small. But I know they will put up a good showing.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Other Games

Vere v Arnett at Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3 p.m.

Mount Pleasant v Molynes United at Drax Hall at 3 p.m.

Chapelton v MoBay United at Ashenheim Stadium at 3 p.m.

Monday Games

Tivoli v Humble Lion at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 5 p.m.

Waterhouse v Dunbeholden at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 7.30 p.m.