MoBay face stern Portmore test
Published:Sunday | September 21, 2025 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
JAMAICA PREMIER League (JPL) leaders Montego Bay United will have their credentials tested this evening when they face the ultra-defensive Portmore United in the second game of a double-header at the Drewsland mini-stadium, starting at 5:30 p.m.
In the opening game at 3 p.m., second-place Racing United tackle Dunbeholden in the Portmore derby.
MoBay sit atop the JPL standings with 10 points from four matches. The only blot on their record was a draw with league favourites Mount Pleasant on the opening day. Portmore are three points behind in fourth place.
MoBay coach Xavier Gilbert is well aware of how difficult it is to score against Rodolph Austin’s Portmore.
Under Austin, Portmore rarely concede two goals in a match, as they did in their 3-2 loss to Chapleton on match day three. However, that is the only team that has scored against them in four matches this season, and Gilbert expects they will have their work cut out, breaking down Portmore’s defence.
“Sunday’s encounter against Portmore is going to be extremely tough. They are a quality bunch. They are always working hard defensively, and are always on the meaner side of things.
“We are mindful of that and will have to find means and ways, and we have to be patient in how we are going to break them down,” he said.
However, he noted that their opponents are not just a defensive team, and that they also have to be mindful of how Portmore can hurt them.
“We will have to nullify them coming forward, because they do have some potential persons who can hurt us. They have some young energetic people in the frontline and we have to slow them down.
“But we are a team that will try to score. We have managed to score more than one goal in every game. So we are relying on our offence, and hopefully we can defend and have a clean sheet, because we haven’t had a clean sheet yet. And that is something we are working on. We want to ensure we get a clean sheet on Sunday.”
He added that the aim is to keep on winning and stay on top of the table.
“We want to lead the table as long as we can. We want to make sure that, when it comes down to the play-offs, we are in the top two. That’s the objective, and picking up the points would keep us on top of the table,” he said.
In the first match, Racing will look to keep their perfect start to the season going when they match up against Portmore rivals Dunbeholden.
Anthony Patrick’s Racing have scored three wins from as many games, and will be favoured to get the three points with players like Nickyle Ellis, Tajay Grant, Giovanni Cunningham and Javaughn Cole, showing excellent form since the start of the season.
Dunbeholden have stuttered out of the blocks somewhat under new coach Damion Gordon. However, their second win of the season last Sunday against Molynes provided a big boost for the team, but the coach says they are still searching for consistency.
“It’s a new team, new coach. But, overall, its a very mature group and we will rely on that. It (win) is a confidence booster. More so in terms of what we wanted to do on the pitch, and I think we got most of it right (last Sunday). So we can move forward,” he said.
Gordon will look to experienced striker Nicholas Nelson, who has scored two of the team’s three goals, to continue to leading the frontline in the way he has so far.
“He is a team player. He works well for the team and we want him to continue to be a team player,” Gordon added.
At Sabina Park, Cavalier will fancy themselves getting their second win of the season when they host Treasure Beach.
However, the defending champions have an identical record to the St Elizabeth team, with two defeats, one win and a draw. Both are on four points, with Cavalier in 10th and Treasure Beach in ninth.
Nevertheless, after their late win in the Caribbean Cup in midweek, Rudolph Speid’s team will go into the game with confidence high. But Treasure Beach have shown resilience this season and will be no pushovers.
At the Edward Seaga Complex, home team Tivoli (four points) will start favourites against Molynes (two points), with the latter yet to pick up a win this term. However, Molynes have quality players in their ranks that can spring a surprise.
The game between Harbour View and Mount Pleasant was postponed.