KINGSTON, Jamaica — Montego Bay United could reclaim the lead in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) with a win over Arnett Gardens in the second game of a double header at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

Montego Bay United’s coach Xavier Gilbert will face Arnett Gardens for the first time since he left the south St Andrew club after leading them to back-to-back third place finishes, beating his present club 4-2 in the play-offs at the end of last season.

Montego Bay United slipped out of first place after taking one point from their last two games, a 3-0 loss to Cavalier Soccer Club (SC) and a 4-4 draw with Harbour View, despite leading by two goals two times in the game and are on 23 points, one point behind leaders Portmore United and one ahead of Racing United.

Arnett Gardens shook off a three game losing skid with a big 10-2 beating of Spanish Town Police Football Club last week and their confidence will be high, especially playing at home.

Arnett Gardens, with Gilbert at the helm, won two of the four games against Montego Bay United but are in eighth place on 12 points, half of the total that the western club has amassed so far while playing two games more.

Jourdaine Fletcher leads the goal-scoring tables with nine strikes including two against Harbour View last time out and will be expected to lead the attack against an Arnett Gardens team that has allowed 17 goals in their nine games.

Montego Bay United’s defence has been porous of late, giving up seven goals in their last two games, but their 10 goals against Spanish Town apart, Arnett Gardens had scored 12 goals prior to that.

In the first game, Waterhouse Football Club will hope to end a miserable five-game winless run when they take on last-placed Spanish Town Police Football Club.

Both teams have lost both games since the restart after the passage of Hurricane Melissa and both will be hoping to make amends.

Spanish Town Police Football Club have conceded 15 goals in the two games, more than seven teams have conceded the entire season, but scored two goals in each of their games.

Waterhouse Football Club have managed two goals since the restart but should win Monday and move up at least three places in the tables from their current ninth place.

— Paul Reid