Harbour View wary of improving Portmore

THE JAMAICA Premier League (JPL) continues to heat up with another exciting set of fixtures this weekend, with the feature game between fourth-place Harbour View and seventh-place Portmore United, at the Ashenheim Stadium today at 5 p.m.

Both teams have been on a rollover the last month, with Harbour View unbeaten in seven games, including five wins while Portmore have taken 10 points from their last four matches.

A lot is at stake for the two teams as Harbour View, who are tied on 36 points with third-place Mount Pleasant, are aiming for the top two, while Portmore, who are three points off Waterhouse in sixth, and final play-off spot, are looking to break into the top six.

Harbour View coach Ludlow Bernard maintains consistency is the key and they must be wary of teams like Portmore, who are surging forward.

“We are really trying to set a standard for ourselves. We believe in ourselves and we expect to do well all the time. But what I really asked of them is consistency and that the players really put out the effort for the team,” he said.

A defeat, Bernard believes, would upset their ambitions of getting a top-two spot.

“You want to position yourself, not only for the play-offs and to be in an advantageous semi-final position, but also for the Concacaf qualification the following year. If we have to do the (quarter-final) route again this year, then we’ll have to. But there are some probing teams pushing forward and we have to be very alert where they are concerned,” he said.

Portmore have made up tremendous ground on the top six in recent weeks, and Williams said their task is simple. Keep on winning.

LOOKING AHEAD

“We are looking ahead, we are not looking behind us. Waterhouse are three points ahead of us, so we just need to do what we have to on the day, and that is win.

“That is all we need to do for the rest of the season and give ourselves the best chance possible,” said Phillips.

The opening game between Molynes United and Dunbeholden at 3 p.m. should also serve up an enticing treat, with two of the more attacking teams in the league.

Last season beaten finalists Dunbeholden, despite their obvious quality, are not having the season they anticipated and are one place and one point above their opponents, in eighth on 26 points.

Molynes are slowly gaining a reputation as the league’s giant killers and, with striker Jason Wright in red-hot form, another upset could be on the cards.

The Clarendon derby between fifth-place Humble Lion (33 points) and 12th-place Vere at Effortville should also be of interest, with Vere looking to stay above relegation and Humble Lion aiming to hold on to their place in the top six.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

n Humble Lion vs Vere at Effortville at 3 p.m.

n Tivoli vs Cavalier at Edward Seaga Complex at 3 p.m.

n Arnett vs Chapelton at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 7 p.m.

n Molynes vs Dunbeholden at Ashenheim Stadium at 3 p.m.

n Portmore vs Harbour View at Ashenheim Stadium at 5:30 p.m.

Tomorrow’s Games

n Faulkland v Waterhouse at Catherine Hall Complex at 5 p.m.

n MoBay v Mount Pleasant Catherine Hall at 7:30 p.m.