Portmore, Mt Pleasant gunning for top spot

CAVALIER’S STAY atop the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) could be short-lived.

The 2023 beaten finalists will not play until Monday, giving second-place Mount Pleasant and third-place Portmore United, who play today, a chance to overtake them.

Lime Hall take on Portmore at 1 p.m., while Mount Pleasant entertain Treasure Beach in the second game of a Drax Hall doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.

Cavalier, 30 points, hold a one-point lead in the standings over former leaders Mount Pleasant and are just two clear of Portmore, while Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens are three points adrift.

Mount Pleasant will be highly favoured to get a win over lowly Treasure Beach, who are second from bottom with seven points.

Treasure Beach have lost nine successive games and are desperately in need of a positive result to boost their spirits, although a result against the defending champions looks far-fetched.

STRUGGLING WITH CONSISTENCY

Mount Pleasant themselves have been struggling for consistency of late, with just three wins in their last seven matches but with their quality, things are highly stacked in their favour.

Portmore are also fancied to get maximum results from bottom-of-the-table Lime Hall.

One of the in-form teams, Portmore are unbeaten in seven matches with five wins during that run.

Lime Hall, on the other hand, are on a run that is as horrid as fellow newcomers Treasure Beach.

The St Ann team have lost six straight and have taken just two points from their last 10 outings, but are at home and will hope that can inspire a positive result.

Meanwhile, sixth-place Dunbeholden will fancy their chances of three points when they travel to Effortville to take on Humble Lion.

Humble Lion’s six defeats in eight game have seen them drop from sixth to 10th in the table and new coach Vassell Reynolds will be very aware of his team’s downward spiral.

However, they will have a tough time against a Dunbeholden team coming off two straight losses and desperately in need of three points after three defeats in their last four.

At the Ashenheim Stadium, Harbour View and Vere appear evenly matched, with the latter ninth in the table on 18 points and the former just three points adrift in 11th.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Lime Hall vs Portmore at Drax Hall (1:00 p.m.)

Mt Pleasant vs Treasure Beach at Drax Hall (3:30 p.m.)

Harbour View vs Vere at Ashneheim Stadium (3:00 p.m.)

Humble Lion vs Dunbeholden at Effortville (3:00 p.m.)