Jamalco soar in Clarendon Major League

BY OSHANE TOBIAS

Saturday, February 11, 2012

HAYES, Clarendon — There is yet another leadership change in the Clarendon/Captain's Bakery Major League, with Jamalco reclaiming top spot following Thursday's victory over Rock River at Wembley.

The Promoted side went into the game in third after losing their 100 per cent start to the campaign against Milk River in round four, but quickly asserted their dominance in the first half against Rock River.

Travis Brown slotted his side ahead on 36 minutes, before Duvane Perry doubled their advantage five minutes later.

But Rock River, looking for their third win of the season, clawed their way back into the contest on the stroke of half-time through a Demar Wright strike.

Wright's 45th-minute goal was, however, good enough to add further suspense to a keenly contested encounter as the hosts eventually held on for a 2-1 result in Hayes.

The win, their fourth of the season, saw Garfield Carney's side replacing Wood Hall atop the 10-team league on 12 points after the north central Clarendon outfit failed to secure full points against Milk River at the Turners Oval.

Wood Hall, who retained their unbeaten and perfect defensive record following the 0-0 tie, are now one point and a place behind Jamalco, but could slip further down the ladder should Four Paths and New Bowens notch victories at the weekend.

Rock River, who were losing three of their five outings this term, remain in mid-table — two points ahead of seventh-placed Gimme-Me-Bit, who have a game in hand.

Former champions Original Hazard won their first game of the season after handing Longwood their fifth straight defeat of the season following a 2-1 result at the Monymusk Sports Club in Lionel Town.

Ricardo Halstead and Andre Logan were on target for Hazard, either side of Kenneth Rathery's 50th-minute equaliser for the hosts.

With the win, Hazard moved four points clear of the relegation zone, which is occupied by pointless Longwood and York Town, who will travel to Bowens today to play their oustanding game against New Bowens.

This fixture has developed a trend for being a keenly and feisty contested affair over the past two seasons, with York Town's aggressive style of play usually causing problems for Bowens.

But, with Bowens being nine points and five places ahead of the struggling York Town team, the south east Clarendon side should be good enough to take full points at home.

Meanwhile, Four Paths will be hoping for a swift return to the summit when they hosts Gimme-Me-Bit at the Four Paths Community Centre, also today.

The newcomers are enjoying a tremendous start to life in top-tier parish football, having won three and tied one of their four games to be one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the league, and should be bubbling with confidence.

Gimme-Me-Bit, last season's runners-up, are not having the best of starts this term, earning four points from four games .

Despite sitting seventh following one win, a draw and two defeats, they have the potential to cause real problems for the high-flying new boys.

Both games are scheduled to start at 3:00 pm.