Waterhouse plans to hang on to top-six spot
Published:Sunday | February 23, 2025 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
FOURTH-PLACE PORTMORE United and sixth-place Waterhouse lock horns in the Jamaica Premier league (JPL) feature game today at the Drewsland mini-stadium at 5:30 p.m.
In other matches, Chapelton Maroons take on Cavalier at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex; Racing play Molynes at Ferdi Neita Park; Dunbeholden entertain Humble Lion in the first game of the Drewsland doubleheader; while Harbour View host Tivoli at Harbour View. Those games begin at 3 p.m.
The struggles of Waterhouse in the second round have been glaring. They currently have 34 points from 25 matches, just three more than Tivoli Gardens and Racing United, lurking in seventh and eighth, respectively.
In their 12 matches in this round, Marcel Gayle’s team have scored just two victories, three draws, and registered seven defeats, five of which came in their last six games.
Gayle says they are desperately in need of points to secure their top-six place, and that they must get going before the third round.
“This is a crucial round and we need to get points. I thought we should have got even a point (against Portmore). But we slacked off and lost our discipline. So concentration is something we will have to pay keen attention to going forward.
“We can score goals because we have players who can score. So it’s just a matter of time before we get it right,” he said.
He pointed out that young recruits such as Dillon John and others have slotted into the team effortlessly and he is looking for even further impact from his young additions.
PLAYERS REPRESENTED WELL
“I have seen good things from the young players. We had a young squad and they went out and represented well. The sky’s the limit. These kids come in and it’s just their second game, and playing like they have been playing for ages. They can only get better and we have time to get better. There are more than 13 games to get it better,” he commented.
Portmore’s 0-0 draw with Arnett in their last game marked the 11th time they were walking away with just a point this season. Even more important, it is their third draw in a row and fourth in five matches. They sit fourth on 41 points.
Assistant coach Ricardo Smith said they have to start turning one point into three.
“We have drawn something like 12 games. That’s some 24 points. If we won those games, we would be further up in the table. So we have to keep on working to eliminate these draws, “ he said.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet against Arnett, he believes it was a very positive game for them.
“I think we could have won the game. We came with a plan. I think we carried out the plan. The only thing we didn’t do was score. But, for a long while, it was the best game we played, even though we didn’t win,” he said
EXPECTING A WIN
Meanwhile, Cavalier will be looking to return to winning ways when they meet up against Chapelton, who defeated them in the first round. However, the Clarendon team have just one win in their last 11 matches, and, although Cavalier lost their last game, they are strongly favoured to take three points.
Cavalier are fifth on 41 points while Chapelton are 12th with 22 points.
Racing United will look to take advantage of Molynes United’s poor form to keep in the hunt for the top six. Racing are eighth on 31 points, the same as Tivoli, and a win would push them back into seventh, if Tivoli lose or draw.
Molynes, despite being 11th on 23 points, are a team with quality. So, despite their run of three straight defeats, Racing cannot underestimate them.
Dunbeholden, ninth on 29 points, are in their best form since the start of the league season.
Four wins in five games have seen Harold Thomas’ team continue to climb the standings, and, though Humble Lion had a rare win on the last matchday, it will be a tough task trying to deny the St Catherine team all three at home.
Humble Lion sit at the foot of the table on 18 points.
The game between Harbour View and Tivoli can go either way. Harbour View have shown massive improvement since the turn of the year, and their win over Cavalier in their last match was a big morale boost.
Although not a top-six team, Tivoli have been consistent enough to make a match of it.
Harbour View are 10th on 23 points.