JPL fight for survival intensifies

With the regular season of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) coming to a close, the fight for survival heats up as Molynes United, Treasure Beach, Harbour View, and Spanish Town Police are all locked in a relegation battle.

The four teams will look to pick up as many points as possible in their remaining games to avoid the drop from the top flight.

Molynes are in the strongest position in 11th place with 36 points, ahead of Treasure Beach, 34, Harbour View, 33, and Spanish Town, 26.

Spanish Town are the most likely to be relegated at this point as they remain rooted to the foot of the table, teetering on the brink.

Their 1-0 loss to Portmore United on Thursday was a heavy blow to their survival hopes and they have three games left to overcome an eight-point deficit.

This means for Spanish Town to survive, they will need to win all three of their games, while hoping Treasure Beach lose all four of their remaining games.

Spanish Town will close out their season with difficult fixtures against Chapelton Maroons, Arnett Gardens and Racing United.

It will be an uphill task for Spanish Town, who have conceded 95 goals this season, 18 of which came against their remaining three opponents.

Harbour View still hold a strong chance of surviving the drop with the Stars of the East just one point adrift of survival.

However, their recent form does not bring much hope for one of the bastions of Jamaica’s local football as they have won just three of their last 10 games, and have lost their last two in a row.

Their chances of survival seem more dire as they will close out their season with games against league leaders Montego Bay United, relegation embattled Molynes, and defending champions Cavalier.

A drop from the top flight would be a far fall from grace for Harbour View, who had won the JPL title just four years ago.

Survival would be a major boost for Treasure Beach, who were heavily impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa last year.

The only team from St Elizabeth, Treasure Beach is a beacon for football in the parish and will be playing with the support of an entire parish.

They look primed to survive the drop following an important 2-1 win over Waterhouse on Thursday, and will be hopeful of picking up more points in their remaining games against Tivoli Gardens, Dunbeholden, Montego Bay and Molynes.

Their match against Molynes will be the most crucial, as they will face off against a fellow relegation embattled team on the final day of the regular season.

Molynes look the most likely to survive the drop as they have done for the last two seasons.

The Jermaine Thomas-led club are in good form, and have won their last three games, including a dominant 9-0 win over Spanish Town.

They will face Tivoli before back-to-back decisive games against Harbour View and Treasure Beach.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com