6 months ago
20
WITH ONE round of games to go in the regular season of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), there are still four teams – Humble Lion, Chapelton, Molynes, and Harbour View – that face the possibility of being relegated.
Vere United, the first team of the season to be demoted, sit at the foot of the table on 23 points; above them in 13th place are Humble Lion, who occupy the second relegation position on 33. Just above the relegation zone are Chapelton in 12th on 34 points, Molynes in 11th on 35, and Harbour View in 10th on 36.
Going into last Sunday’s round of games, Dunbeholden were also under the knife, but escaped courtesy of a 1-0 win over Portmore United, which took them to ninth and 37 points, one clear of danger.
Although it is still mathematically possible for Harbour View to be relegated, it is very unlikely, as the Stars of the East boast a plus-11 goal difference on Humble Lion, who can only catch them on 36 points if they lose their last game to Arnett on Sunday.
Harbour View made themselves relatively safe by virtue of a 6-0 win over Vere on Sunday, leaving Harbour View technical director Ludlow Bernard a relieved man.
“We just emphasised the importance and prestige of the club, and the tradition of the club. That we need to ensure that we are in the league next season. Throughout the course of the game, we were very tense, I must admit. But the first three goals would have settled us,” he said.
Of the four teams fighting the drop, Humble Lion’s chances of survival look the slimmest. It is hard to see them getting a point against the rampaging league leaders Mount Pleasant on Sunday.
However, Humble Lion’s form at home this season under coach Alex Thomas has been fairly good and they will have to bank on that to get a win, without which lower-level football awaits.
“We just have to do what we have to do. We have to go out and win the game. It’s as simple as that,” stated assistant coach Michael Blygin.
VALUABLE POINT
On Sunday, Chapelton plucked themselves from the jaws of defeat, coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Tivoli to earn a valuable point, and coach Vassell Reynolds admitted the point felt like three.
After those dramatics, the Clarendon team are on a high and will be highly favoured to get the points against another Clarendon team in Vere, after their demoralising defeat to Harbour View.
“We were always confident,” commented Reynolds.
“We knew it would have been a challenge, especially coming off a two-game loss coming into this game. We knew we needed something from it to go into the Vere game with a platform and some confidence.
“We wanted things to be in our hands going into the last game and it is now. We are very confident we will get over the line next week Sunday.”
Molynes, however, are not out of the woods, despite having one point more than Chapelton and two more than Humble Lion.
While they will need three points on Sunday to consolidate their position in the standings, they start as underdogs to get anything from their game with Cavalier.
If Molynes lose, Humble Lion win and Chapelton at least draw, Thomas’ side would be out by virtue of an inferior goal difference.
If Molynes get a point against Cavalier, Chapelton and Humble Lion would require wins to stay in the league.
That would be a disastrous scenario for Molynes, who could end tied with Humble Lion on 36 points but short in the goal-difference column.
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