Waterhouse wary of ‘top team’ Mt Pleasant
Published:Sunday | March 3, 2024 | 12:16 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
ALTHOUGH WATERHOUSE have been superior to Mount Pleasant in their last eight meetings, coach Marcel Gayle said it will still be a difficult task trying to get three points off the defending champions in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) this afternoon at Drewsland at 3:30.
Since the league returned after the COVID-19 pandemic, Waterhouse have recorded three wins over the St Ann team, who has beaten the Drewsland outfit only once, while four of those meetings have ended in draws.
Despite playing at home, Gayle said Mount Pleasant were no pushovers.
“They are one of the top teams in the league. They are second only on goal difference. They have one of the best teams, if not the best team in the league. So we know it will be a difficult match,” said Gayle.
Waterhouse, on 30 points in sixth, are unbeaten in three matches, and Gayle pointed that the key to that run has been a solid defence, and he believes that will be crucial in today’s game as well.
“We have conceded just one goal in our last three games and we want to keep it that way.
“So our focus on Sunday will be on keeping a clean sheet. If we can keep a clean sheet, we know we can get something from the game. We just need to put away the chances we have been creating,” said Gayle.
Second-place Mount Pleasant (43) only trail Cavalier (43) on goal difference and the Theodore Whitmore-coached team is now unbeaten in nine matches, with just three draws.
However, Whitmore insists his team needs to improve their finishing coming into the business end of the season.
“We have a few games to go and it’s now down to crunch time. So we have to get it [finishing] right,” he commented.
Meanwhile, for the second week running, Montego Bay United (27), who are also in the race for the top six with Waterhouse, and Dunbeholden (30), will have it all to do again this weekend against high-flying Portmore United (40).
Last week MoBay held Mount Pleasant to a 1-1 draw in an impressive display and will again have to show the same level of quality if they hope to come away from Ferdie Neita Park with a result.
However, MoBay coach Neider Dos Santos is convinced that they are on the right track and have time to make up ground even if today’s result does not go their way.
“It was good, the one point against Mount Pleasant, but we deserved the win. But the win is waiting for us,” he said.
“We have six matches to finish the round. So to be out of the top six now doesn’t matter. What matters is to be in the top six after the last round of games.
“So a lot of matches to be played. The Premier League is very tough but we are still here and we are still fighting for it and we are going to fight to the last match,” said the Brazilian.
Portmore will look to stretch their unbeaten run to 14 games this afternoon but coach Philip Williams will be aware of the progress MoBay have made since the start of the second round and will be wary of what their opponents have to offer.
The St Catherine team has also fallen off a bit, with three draws in the last four games and only four goals scored. Today will be another acid test against one of the league’s most improved teams.
Vere, 22 points in ninth place, who are fresh off the 6-2 drubbing of Lime Hall, entertain Arnett Gardens at the Wembley Centre of Excellence, while fourth-place Tivoli (38) will look for their first win in three matches when they travel to St Elizabeth Technical High School to face 13th-place Treasure Beach, who are unbeaten in three games.