Challengers vs strugglers mark round 22

THE JAMAICA Premier League (JPL) continues this afternoon and the round will be highlighted by teams in the top half of the table doing battle with those in the lower half.

Leaders Mount Pleasant play away to Harbour View at Harbour View mini-stadium at 3 p.m., second place Montego Bay United travel to Dunbeholden Complex to face Dunbeholden at 3 p.m., Portmore take on Humble Lion at Drewsland mini-stadium at 3 p.m., Waterhouse entertain Molynes also at Drewsland at 5:30 p.m., while Chapelton play Racing at Stadium East at 3 p.m.

After setting a new JPL record of 11 straight wins in the league on Wednesday, Mount Pleasant will look to extend that run when they take on the struggling Harbour View.

The Stars of the East had a morale-boosting win a couple match days ago, but fell to Racing in their previous match and will have a mammoth task against the front-runners who are high on form.

Mount Pleasant lead the standings with 52 points, while Harbour View are second from bottom on 16.

Harbour View coach Damion Stewart said the players must put the club’s glorious history out of their minds and focus on fighting relegation.

“They are not used to it (losing) and I think that is the thing, because they are used to winning and winning, and so they won the last game (before Racing) and may be thought this was going to be the same thing again,

“But we have to learn that we are really in a relegation battle and every game, we have to fight for every point,” he said.

In the first match at Drewsland, Portmore will expect to get the better of Humble Lion, who are still smarting from their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Arnett.

Portmore have not won in two matches and will see this as a great opportunity to get back to winning ways, with Humble Lion having lost their last three to sit at the bottom of the table on 14 points.

THREE-MATCH UNBEATEN RUN

However, home team Waterhouse will have a little more difficulty trying to get the better of Molynes, who are on a three-match unbeaten run.

Waterhouse, who are sixth on 33 points, have lost their last two games and could soon find their position in the top six under serious threat with another defeat.

Molynes, on the other hand, sit three places down on 22 points but after draws with Arnett and Portmore and victory over Humble Lion, the Jermaine Thomas-coached team will fancy their chances of another upset result, especially with Waterhouse not doing so well at home after three successive defeats.

The other game between Racing and Chapelton should be an entertaining but evenly matched contest. Both teams have shown good attacking football all season and that they can compete with any team in the league. Chapelton, who are 10th on 20 points, have done better against the top six, Racing, who sit eighth on 25 points, have proven to be consistent performers against teams in the lower half of the table.

Racing captain and man-of-the-match in their last 1-0 win over Harbour View, Marcovich Brown, said the aim is to keep their win streak, which now stands at three, going.

“We spoke about the teams sixth and downward and to get maximum points from them. Chapelton is just below us and we want the three points from them and keep the winning streak going.

“They have skilful wingers and attackers, so it’s going to be a good showdown. Definitely (looking for a good showing) and team performance,” he said.

Second-place MoBay (44) will start favourites over 11th-place Dunbeholden. MoBay have three wins and a draw in four matches and forward Shaniel Thomas is one of the most in-form players in the league at present.

However, 11th-place Dunbeholden (19 points), fresh off their first win in 11 games, will be looking for another upset after their impressive 3-1 win over Chapelton in their last game.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

TODAY’S GAMES

Portmore United vs Humble Lion at Drewsland

Waterhouse vs Molynes United at Drewsland (5:30 p.m.)

Harbour View vs Mount Pleasant at Compound

Dunbeholden vs Montego Bay United at Dunbeholden Sports Complex

Chapelton Maroons vs Racing United FC at Stadium East

*All games unless otherwise indicated begin at 3 p.m.