Fireworks expected from top-of-the-table clash
Published:Sunday | January 19, 2025 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
FIREWORKS ARE expected when Jamaica Premier League (JPL) leaders Mount Pleasant entertain second-place Arnett Gardens in the feature match of round 18, at Drax Hall at 3 p.m. today.
In other games, Tivoli play Dunbeholden at Stadium East, Humble Lion meet Chapelton in a Clarendon derby at Effortville Community Centre, Portmore take on Harbour View at Ferdie Neita Park, and Vere host Waterhouse at Wembley Centre of Excellence. All starting at 3 p.m.
Only three points separate the top two, with Mount Pleasant sitting at the summit on 40 points.
A win for the St Ann-based club would also put them one shy of Arnett’s record of 10 successive wins in the Premier league.
Mount Pleasant assistant coach Davion Ferguson described their opponents as ‘a very dangerous team’, with quality from back to front.
Nevertheless, he believes the game will be a good indication of exactly where they are.
“They play on the front foot. They are aggressive. A very ultra-attacking style. They are a serious team and each time Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant meet, it is a game that always challenges us and we look forward to it because it is a marker for where we are and how far away we are from where we want to be.”
How they will approach the game, will depend on the game plan of the opponents he added.
“We respect the opponents but it will be based on how they approach the game. The last two times we watched Arnett against big teams they were not ultra aggressive like they normally are.
“But I expect them to be more aggressive in this game. They are playing away from home and it is an opportunity against the league leaders to reduce the deficit.
“So they will try to hit us early and get an advantage. But our approach is normally based on how the opponents approach the game,” he stated.
Arnett coach Xavier Gilbert said though they are an attacking-minded team, they will not open up carelessly to their opponents, who have scored 44 goals this season, 13 more than the next best team in Cavalier.
However, he said they are definitely out for three points, which would put them level at the top.
“We know what we have to do and what we are up against. We are going to give it our best effort and hopefully we come away with something out of the game
“We can’t be naive but attack is the best line of defence. So we are going to make sure we throw some punches and push them back a little bit.
“Hopefully we will give a good showing and come away with something. And that’s our objective. It is going to be tough. We know the task at hand but we are going to give it our best shot.
“If we win the game we will be tied on points and that definitely is our first objective. But if we can’t win, we definitely don’t want them to get further ahead of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tivoli will look to continue their good run of form when they take on a Dunbeholden team that have lost four of their last five.
Seventh-place Tivoli have 23 points, and are just four points off Waterhouse in sixth and Portmore in fifth, and a win today would keep them in touch with the playoff spots.
Dunbeholden, who have slipped to 12th as a result of their recent struggles, will need a big performance to upstage Jerome Waite’s team.
Chapelton’s performance under Jermaine Douglas, who took charge in December, has significantly improved and they will go to Effortville as favourites in this Clarendon derby.
Chapelton have taken eight points from their last five games to sit eighth with 17 points, six points more than Humble Lion at the foot of the table.
After getting their fist win in eight matches last weekend, Portmore United will expect to make it two from two against the struggling Harbour View, who accompany Humble Lion in the relegation zone, with 13 points.
At Wembley, Waterhouse will be looking for their first win in five. The Drewsland-based team are expected to get the better of a Vere team that has struggled against teams in the top half of the table.
Vere are 10th in the table with 16 points.