Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Cavalier placed themselves in pole position for the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) end-of-second-round final on Monday night following a 1-0 win over Humble Lion at Stadium East.

An eighth-minute goal from Dellon Wilson lifted Cavalier to the top of the second-round table on 20 points, two more than Arnett Gardens and Montego Bay United. With just one set of matches to go in the round and with the weak-again Highgate United their opponents, it could be a good bet that Cavalier will cement their place but coach David Lalor would not call it.

"I am confident that we have a good chance of getting there, but we cannot take anything for granted," Lalor said.

"We are looking at the bigger picture. I am hoping that you would be interviewing me at the end of the season when we close it off as champions," he added, revealing their major objective for the season.

Happy with win

Of the game itself, Lalor was happy with the win but was honest enough to state the obvious - that in terms of play and possession they were bettered by Humble Lion.

"It was a good game. Humble Lion came out to play a good game.

"They had the better play in terms of possession, but games are won and lost on mistakes and we capitalised on theirs," he stated.

Humble Lion's coach Geoffrey Maxwell was predictably disappointed with the loss despite agreeing with Lalor that his team was better on the night.

"I think we played well. I think we outplayed them maybe 80 per cent. We got two opportunities where we could have drawn but selfishness crept in," he rued.

Humble Lion, according to Maxwell, are suffering from the absence of a clinical finisher and a playmaker.

"Finishing is a problem," said the man who last season, with the help of Michael Smith, kept Highgate in the top flight.

"We are suffering from the lack of a playmaker. Wolry Wolfe is training with us but we are awaiting his international clearance," he added, indicating that a solution could be had soon.

The loss kept Humble Lion second from bottom in the second round and four points off relegation as they sit just above the battling Highgate and face a tough challenge against one of Maxwell's former clubs, Waterhouse, on Sunday. Harbour View lead the overall standings with 42 points, Cavalier are in fifth on 33 points.