Cavalier, Waterhouse in pivotal clash

CAVALIER SOCCER Club will hunt another big win in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) today when they travel to Drewsland to face Waterhouse in the feature match at 3 p.m.

The top four teams in the JPL, Mount Pleasant (35 points), Portmore United (34), Cavalier (34) and Arnett (33), have distinguished themselves, especially over the last five matches, with four wins from their last five games.

Cavalier and Portmore, however, have been on a much longer unbeaten stretch of nine matches.

The Caribbean Club Championship finalists, Cavalier, have continued to show their resilience, as they took on a high-flying Montego Bay United with eight players absent last weekend and won 1-0.

They were also the first team to hand defending champions Mount Pleasant a defeat this season.

The JPL’s beaten finalists will have most of their players returning for this match, and coach Rudolph Speid expects them to continue their good run.

However, if there is an unpredictable team in the league this season, it is Waterhouse.

The Marcel Gayle-coached team has struggled to put together a run of wins in their 16 matches.

Although they have shown they can beat any team on the day, they have only scored back-to-back wins once this season.

The first-round game between the teams ended 1-1. That draw came during Waterhouse’s best run in the league to date, in which they were unbeaten in four games, with three wins and a draw.

Still, Waterhouse boast the league’s leading scorer in Javane Bryan, who has 10 goals. Although fellow attackers Andre Fletcher and Denardo Thomas have been just as inconsistent as their team, they have the ability to unlock any defence.

The two teams have netted the same number of goals this season, 23, but Cavalier have the best defensive record in the league with just nine goals conceded.

Waterhouse’s defensive display has been far less impressive, as they have let in almost twice the number (17) of goals as their opponents.

Despite that, playing at home should be an added boost for Gayle’s team, who are determined to have a strong run.

Meanwhile, at the Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore will be gunning for their eighth win in 10 games when they face Dunbeholden in the Portmore derby at 3 p.m.

Portmore had the better of Dunbeholden in their first meeting this season, and based on the teams’ run of form, Portmore will be favoured to take all three points.

Dunbeholden had a decent first round, even though it took them five matches to get their first win.

The Lenworth Hyde-coached team scored six wins, three draws and four defeats in the first round, and are currently seventh with 22 points.

However, with just one point from their last four games, Dunbeholden know they can’t afford any more slip-ups, with Montego Bay (19), Vere (19) and Humble Lion (18) breathing down their necks.

If Waterhouse fail to take three points at the expense of Cavalier this afternoon, and Dunbeholden win, then both teams will switch places on the table, Waterhouse dropping to seventh and Dunbeholden climbing to sixth.

At Wespow Park, Montego Bay will start as favourites against Vere, in a game that can go either way.

In the feature game of a doubleheader at Drax Hall, Mount Pleasant are expected to claim their fifth win in six matches against the ever-improving Molynes United, who are 12th on 14 points.

In the opening match, Lime Hall (four points) and Treasure Beach (seven) will meet in the bottom-of-the-table clash.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

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

Mt Pleasant vs Molynes Utd at Drax Hall (3:30 p.m.)

MoBay Utd vs Vere Utd at Wespow Park (3:00 p.m.)

Portmore vs Dunbeholden at Fedie Neita Park (3:00 p.m.)

Waterhouse vs Cavalier at Drewsland (4:00 p.m.)