Molynes brace for UWI FC test

Following their impressive opening-day performance in the Red Stripe Premier League – a 3-0 thumping of defending champions Portmore United – newcomers Molynes United will take centre stage again today.

Joining the newcomers as centre of attention today are UWI FC, who journey to Drewsland to face the new boys. Like them, UWI FC had a big win, slamming former champions Tivoli Gardens 4-0, and neutrals, and partisan supporters alike will be looking for a cracking match.

“It (the win over Portmore United) is a positive result. We really appreciate the fact that the players came out and played to instruction,” Lijyasu Simms, coach of Molynes United FC said, refusing to get carried away with the result.

“That is history, it is water under the bridge. We have to refocus and get ready for this game when UWI FC comes here,” added the very business-like Simms, who has had Premier League stints with Arnett Gardens, Maverley-Hughenden, and Humble Lion.

If the players remain focused and continue following instructions, Simms said they will be in good stead. Their chances, he added, could be boosted by a return to action of young forward Ryan Brown.

Brown, Molynes’ two-goal hero in their win over Portmore United, had to be substituted early due to injury. The 20-year-old could see action according to Simms as he responded well to training on Saturday and will be tested again on game day.

Andrew Peart, coach of UWI FC, witnessed Molynes’ performance against the defending champions and expects them to be a handful.

“We saw the game they played against Portmore United. They are not easy, they are very organised, they defended stoutly and countered well. When you have a striker scoring two goals and coming off to be replaced by someone of the calibre of a Devon Hodges, it shows their depth,” Peart explained.

He added: “They are a new team, but they have players with Premier League experience and these are not players coming from relegated teams. When you look at the Nelson brothers, who played for Cavalier last year, and the fact that they are an important part of this group, it tells you what they are about.”

As far as his own aggregation is concerned, Peart said they have been responding well to training and have not been negatively affected by the departures of key players.

“This game is another test for us, and we want to do better than we did last year.

“We did lose players with a wealth of experience, but we have players who can compete. Looking back at our opening game in terms of the score line, I was not looking at that, but when you have 12 shots at goal and score four, that is a good start,” said Peart.

PEART CONFIDENT

With players like Amal Knight, Damano Solomon, Fabion McCarthy, and Zhelano Barnes in the squad as well as other experienced players, Peart expressed confidence that the consistency would come.

Defending champions Portmore United will attempt to arrest the slide when they travel to meet the second promoted team, Vere United. This will be Vere’s first game.

Last year’s beaten finalist, Waterhouse, will see action for the first time this season when they play away to last year’s miracle team, Dunbeholden FC. Dunbeholden did not fare well against Cavalier and could find the going tough again.

The Effortville Community Centre will see two of Donovan Duckie’s former teams clash when Humble Lion, now under the guidance of Andrew Price and fresh from their win over Arnett Gardens, battle the Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis-conditioned Mount Pleasant FA.

Tivoli and Arnett Gardens will both go in search of their first win at each other’s expense when they go head-to-head at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Today’s Games:

3:30pm Dunbeholden FC vs Waterhouse FC @ Royal Lakes

3:30pm Humble Lion FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA @ Effortville Community Centre

3:30pm Molynes United FC vs. UWI FC @ Waterhouse Stadium

3:30pm Tivoli Gardens FC vs Arnett Gardens FC @ Edward Seaga Sports Complex

3:30pm Vere United FC vs Portmore United FC @ Wembly Centre of Excellence

Tomorrow’s game:

8:30pm Harbour View FC vs Cavalier FC @ Harbour View Stadium

Standings

Standings in the National Premier League (Tabulated under Teams, P-Play, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Lose, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD – Goal Difference and O Pts-Overall Points

POINTS STANDING

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts

UWIFC 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3

Molynes FC 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3

Cavalier 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3

H. Lion 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3

H.View 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3

Vere United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Waterhouse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mt. Pleasant 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

Arnett 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0

Dunbeholden 1 0 0 1 1 3 -3 0

Portmore 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0

Tivoli 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0