Maroons ambush Cavalier at Sabina

Chapelton Maroons recorded only their third win of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season and their first in nine games after they took the scalps of defending champions Cavalier 3-1 at Sabina Park yesterday to climb out of the relegation zone.

Goals from Jamari Howell (29th) and Levaughn Williams (66th) put the relegation strugglers 2-0 up. And although Jalmaro Calvin (72) pulled a goal back for Cavalier, Malique Stephens secured the points nine minutes from the end.

The win lifted Chapelton off the foot of the table and into 11th with 12 points, the same as 10th-place Harbour View and two more than Humble Lion and Molynes United, respectively, in the drop zone. Cavalier remain fifth with 22, six behind league leaders Mount Pleasant.

New Chapelton coach Jermaine Douglas, who was overseeing his second game in charge, said they are desperate for points and that the win is a big boost to their cause.

“We need the points. Regardless of the opponents, we need the points. We were stuck at the bottom of the table and needed to move ourselves up the table, so it was an important win. Beating the defending champions. It cannot get any better than that. It’s a big boost not only for me but the entire team. It is never good to be in the relegation zone, no matter what time of the season it is, so we are happy that we are off the bottom of the table, but the work continues,” Douglas said.

Cavalier had the better of the opening exchanges but failed to really trouble Prince Daniel-Smith in goal.

However, like they have shown all season, Chapelton are always dangerous, and 26 minutes into the match, Howell’s speculative ball into the box, from over on the right, found its way past goalkeeper Jaedine White, who was under some pressure from forward Levaughn Williams.

For the remainder of the half, Cavalier pushed for the equaliser and came close with headers from Richard King and Jalmaro Calvin moments before the break.

At the start of the second half, Calvin had another great chance but placed his header over the bar.

Williams would add a second for Chapelton when the Cavalier defence failed to deal with a loose ball, and the veteran attacker showed a bit of skill before drilling a low shot past White.

Cavalier pulled a goal back after 72 minutes through Calvin, who slammed home a good pass from Shaquille Stein after good work from Alexavier Gooden down the right.

However, Chapelton killed the game off in the 81st minute when King lost possession to Nathaniel Howe, who set up Stephens to fire past White from the edge of the box.

Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid said fatigue got the better of his players, who were lacking their “cutting edge”.

“We just did not have the cutting edge. A lot of those chances we got we would have scored them (if we were sharp enough). We are the ones, I think, who gave away all three goals, maybe because they are tired. It was bound to happen soon, and I suppose today it happened,” Speid said. Cavalier were involved in their second game in four days. Last Thursday, they clipped 10-man Arnett Gardens 2-1. The defending champions will play another rescheduled match on Wednesday against Montego Bay United.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com