Race heats up for final JPL playoff spot
The race for the final playoff spot in the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League will go down to the final set of games with former champions Waterhouse FC and Montego Bay United (MBU) separated by goal difference.
Waterhouse FC and a resurgent MBU are locked on 40 points each, six clear of eighth-placed Dunbeholden FC and six behind fifth-placed Arnett Gardens.
Defending champions Mt Pleasant FA, who are on 56 points, have secured their semi-final place and a bye in the next round with Cavalier SC and Tivoli Gardens, both on 51 points, in a neck-and-neck race for the other automatic spot in the top four.
Tivoli Gardens, who will play away to MBU in the final round, have a slight advantage – a better goal difference than Cavalier SC who will face Molynes United.
Both Waterhouse FC and MBU scored 3-0 wins on Sunday, over Molynes and Harbour View respectively, and are separated by six goals. Waterhouse boasts a plus 15 and MBU a plus nine.
Jaheim Brown scored in the third minute to give Waterhouse the lead on Sunday with Revaldo Mitchell in the 65th minute and Javane Bryan in the 69th minute adding to the scoreline.
On Monday, MBU ran their winning record to four straight and unbeaten in their last nine games, led by a double from former national striker Owayne Gordon, who scored both goals from dead ball situations, a curling free kick in the third minute and a penalty in the 90th, while Johann Weatherly scored the second goal in the 55th minute as he extended his scoring run to four games.
Oquassa Chong’s sweetly struck volley in the 88th minute gave Mt Pleasant FA their league-leading 17th win of the season, edging Humble Lion 1-0 at Effortville Community Centre.
Tivoli Gardens maintained second place with a 4-1 win over relegation-bound Lime Hall Academy at Drax Hall on Sunday and were up 2-0 in the first 15 minutes with goals from Steve Clark in the third minute and Justin Dunn in the 15th minute.
Rohan Sewell pulled a goal back for Lime Hall in the 39th minute but goals from Alton Lewis in the 68th minute and Rodico Wellington in the 71st minute ensured a comfortable win for Tivoli Gardens.
Jerome McCleary scored two goals to lead Cavalier SC to a 4-2 come-from-behind win over Dunbeholden FC.
Carlington Blackwood gave Dunbeholden the lead after just eight minutes but McCleary scored in the 21st minute to level the scores at half time then added a second in the 49th minute to give them the lead.
Shaquille Stein added a third goal for Cavalier SC when he scored in the 75th minute and Ajuma Johnson scored two minutes into time added to cut the deficit to a goal but Ronaldo Robinson responded two minutes later to restore Cavalier SC’s two goal lead.
Portmore United and Arnett Gardens both lost a chance to stay in the race for a semi-final spot when they played out a 1-1 draw; Chevaughn Walsh gave Portmore the lead in the 19th minute before Rushane Thompson equalised in the 63rd minute.