JPL musical chairs at the top set to continue
Published:Sunday | December 1, 2024 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
PORTMORE UNITED have a good chance of reclaiming leadership of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) today when they take on Dunbeholden in the Portmore derby at Dunbeholden Sports Complex at 3:00 p.m.
Mount Pleasant lead the standings with 22 points, the same as Waterhouse and one ahead of Montego Bay United and Arnett, third and fourth respectively, with Portmore next on 20 points.
In order for Portmore to move back to the top of the table, they will have to win and Mount Pleasant, who play Molynes United at Drax Hall at 3 p.m., will have to lose.
However, Portmore coach Rodolph Austin insists that his charges must improve their play in the final third if they want to get three points.
“We have to make better decisions and be a bit calmer in front of goal and in and around the 18-yard box,” he said.
Portmore have scored just two goals in their last three matches, but prior to that they were averaging at least two goals a game in their seven match unbeaten run.
“Up top we can do better. Our decision-making isn’t the best. So we have to work on that,” he added
After losing their first four matches of the season, Dunbeholden brought in young coach Byjeon Thomas, who oversaw Chapelton Maroons’ return to the top-flight after winning the Tier II competition last season, and the youngster has turned their fortunes around with four wins and a draw from their last seven matches.
Most of Dunbeholden’s wins have come against teams in the lower half of the table, but the St Catherine team defeated Mount Pleasant earlier in the season and will back themselves to get a result against their more favoured opponents.
Dunbeholden have 13 points and are three points outside of the top six behind Cavalier and seven points adrift of Portmore in fifth.
Victory against Portmore would greatly enhance their chances of breaking into the playoff spots with just a game remaining before the end of the first round.
Dunbeholden drew 0-0 with Humble Lion in their last match and Thomas said the intention is to get back on track.
“It’s early in the season. I don’t think it set us back, but we are just disappointed. But we will continue to work to improve and get back to winning games,” he said.
Unbeaten run
Meanwhile, Mount Pleasant could stretch their lead at the top of the table if Portmore fail to get maximum points and they win their game against Molynes at Drax Hall, starting at 3 p.m.
The Theodore Whitmore-coached Mount Pleasant will start overwhelming favourites for this game and after a four-match unbeaten run which includes three wins, they will be confident of adding three points to their tally.
Nevertheless, Molynes, who had the tag of giant-killers in previous seasons, have found their footing somewhat after a shaky start and have registered back-to-back wins for the first time this season to climb out of the relegation zone.
Molynes are 11th with 10 points, just one point outside the relegation zone. However, victory today and defeat for Dunbeholden could catapult Jermaine Thomas’ team all the way up to seventh.
Tivoli Gardens, buoyed by their 6-0 hammering of Harbour View on Sunday, will look to build on that momentum when they face lowly Chapelton Maroons at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 3 p.m.
Tivoli, 10th on 10 points, won their first match in seven attempts against Harbour View and will believe they have a great opportunity of extending that against a 13th-place Chapelton team that has not seen a win in six games.
Racing will also be looking to recent good results when they tackle Humble Lion at Ferdi Neita Park at 3 p.m.
Racing, with two wins in their last three games, are ninth in the table on 11 points, and they will feel another win is within their grasp against Humble, who have not won in four games.
Despite their poor run of results, the Clarendon team makes victory for every team difficult and Racing should expect nothing less than a competitive encounter.