‘It’s all to play for’, admits Reid as Harbour View hunt JPL semifinal spot
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Harbour View held the highly fancied Arnett Gardens to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their quarterfinals in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at Sabina Park on Monday.
Following a quick turnaround, the two teams will meet in the second leg on Thursday for a chance to play in the semi-finals which begin on Sunday.
Trayvone Reid, who is on a season-long loan from Tivoli Gardens, who failed to make the playoffs, has been the best attacker on display for the ‘Stars of the East’ this season.
Reid had produced a sublime free-kick that ensured playoff football for Harbour View in their final game of the regular season, and on Monday night, he was at it again, this time scoring from the penalty spot which gave his team the lead over Arnett Gardens on the stroke of half time.
Despite letting the one-goal advantage slip, Reid believes that his team is getting it right at the right time of the season.
“It was a great performance from the team coming into this playoff. It was a rough season for us, but as you can see, we are getting there. I think we will get there,” he said confidently.
Reid is a tricky winger with the ability to bamboozle just about any defender in the league, but he has been asked to play a more central role by head coach Ludlow Bernard from time to time.
“As a team player, you have to be prepared to play anywhere on the pitch, so I think that’s how I can help the team,” he said of his multiple roles.
However, it was his wing play that helped him earn and convert the penalty to give his team the lead and Reid said that more of that can be expected on Thursday.
“I am a winger, so most of the time I will be dropping off on the wing, so most of the time I will get the ball on the wing and drift inside. That’s how it works,” he explained.
Reid was a constant threat to the Arnett Gardens defence for the entire game and he has promised to be in even better form for the return leg.
“For me, personally, it was a great performance, but for the next match I am going to get better.”
The former Manning Cup winner with Kingston College has promised to leave it all on the pitch in their efforts to advance to the final four.
“We have it all to play for coming Thursday, so going into that match we have to give it our all,” he stated.
Harbour View and Arnett Gardens will meet in the feature game at Sabina Park starting at 7:30 pm after Cavalier and Mount Pleasant do battle at 5:00 pm in their quest to claim the other semifinal spot. Those two teams played out a 0-0 draw at the same venue on Monday.