League leaders hunt for separation

TWO MOUTH-WATERING clashes will highlight this Sunday’s round of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), with league leaders Montego Bay United down to face last season’s beaten finalist and fifth-place Mount Pleasant at Drax Hall at 3 p.m. while the in-form Waterhouse, who are second in the table, play away to former league leaders and third-place Portmore United, who suffered their first defeat in eight games last weekend, at Ferdie Neita Park, also at 3 p.m.

Since losing to Harbour View in their second game of the season, MoBay have not looked back and have racked up five wins and two draws since then to replace Portmore at the summit after the latter fell 1-0 to Arnett Gardens in the last round.

MoBay take on a Mount Pleasant team that are struggling for victories, with just three wins from their eight starts.

Although the Theodore Whitmore-coached team has the quality that can turn any match, at the moment MoBay United are like a well-oiled machine with forwards Owayne Gordon, Brian Brown and Shaniel Thomas all in sparkling form.

Nevertheless, MoBay coach Rodolfo Zapata said they are not getting ahead of themselves as it is still early days yet.

“We haven’t won anything. We just won three points (against Racing). I am happy with the performance during the season. But it is a long season. I am happy but we always think about the next game.

“This league is very competitive. It is different from other leagues that have three or four teams that control the leagues. Here the bottom team can still beat you.

“So there is going to be a long race for the title and I respect all of them (teams). We just have to keep working hard and take it step by step,” he said.

One bright spark

Kimoni Bailey remains Mount Pleasant’s only bright spark this term, as his five goals thus far have been crucial in making sure the team has only tasted defeat once this season.

At the Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore, fresh from their defeat to Arnett are looking to rebound against the rampaging Waterhouse, who like MoBay have not lost since match day two, and have accumulated five wins and two draws since then.

Striker Atapharoy Bygrave has also found a new lease on life at the Drewsland club. He has already netted five goals and his partnership with last season’s top scorer Javane Bryan gives any defence a lot to think about.

Nevertheless, Portmore, who were left licking their wounds after an added-time strike cost them the points last weekend, will look to avoid a second straight defeat at home and re-establish their winning form.

“Complacency and being satisfied. I do not like those words,” Portmore coach Rudolph Austin stated.

“Any time you have a team that gets complacent or satisfied because you are on a run, then some little things will creep in.

“But they are human beings and I am proud of what they are doing. They are doing great. We just have to keep going. Go to the drawing board and go again,” he commented.

At Effortville Community Centre, Dunbeholden, who have won three of their last five games under new coach Byjeon Thomas, are still in a precarious position having lost two of their last three.

They will still be confident of taking all three points away from home after winning in their last outing.

However, the Donovan Duckie-coached Humble Lion are out to stem a run of three straight defeats and will not make it easy for the visitors.

Dunbeholden are seventh with 12 points, while Humble Lion are 12th on eight.

The other game between fellow strugglers Tivoli Gardens and Harbour View can go either way and will be an opportunity for either team to get a rare win.

Although eighth in the table with 11 points, Harbour View have won just once in seven matches, with four losses during that time.

The West Kingston-based Tivoli have not fared much better and are struggling for confidence after three defeats and three draws in their last six games.