Dunbeholden face uphill task for playoff spot

THIRD-PLACE CAVALIER and eighth-place Dunbeholden square off in the feature Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game at the Dunbeholden field at 3:30 p.m. with both teams having a lot to play for with only two games remaining in the preliminary round.

Hosts Dunbeholden are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. They sit three points off sixth-place Waterhouse and seventh-place Montego Bay United, who both have relatively easier matches this round.

Waterhouse take on the ever-competitive Molynes United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 3:30 p.m., while MoBay play struggling Harbour View at the same venue on Monday.

Anything but a win for Dunbeholden could see them eliminated from top-six contention before the final round of games.

Defeat to Cavalier and even a draw for Waterhouse and MoBay would leave Dunbeholden four points off the pace with one game to go.

A draw for the St Catherine team and a win for Waterhouse and MoBay would also eliminate Dunbeholden before the final weekend.

Dunbeholden have lost their last two matches to direct rivals for sixth, MoBay and Waterhouse, respectively.

Coach Lenworth Hyde admitted those defeats were a big setback, but said they will try to get six points from their two games.

“We will try and get the best out of the last games. So it is important how we prepare for them. We have two games left and we have to try and get the six points. If it is not to be we will have to wheel and prepare for next season,” he said.

The return of Fabian McCarthy and Devonte Hodges from red card suspensions will be a big boost for Dunbeholden.

Meanwhile, Dunbeholden’s opponents, Cavalier, have their sights set on overtaking Tivoli Gardens for second place, for which a team earns an automatic semi-final spot.

Cavalier and Tivoli are tied for second on 48 points, five behind leaders Mount Pleasant and three ahead of Portmore United and Arnett Gardens, but Tivoli hold the advantage with a superior goal difference.

The Rudolph Speid-coached Cavalier also broke their four-game winless streak and back-to-back defeats, with a resounding 5-0 win over Treasure Beach. Cavalier won the first meeting between the teams and will fancy their chance of getting three points again.

In another decisive matchup, fourth-place Portmore take on fifth-place Arnett at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 6 p.m.

Both teams are level on 45 points, although Arnett lost to Mount Pleasant last weekend they are the more in-form of the pair with three wins in their last five.

Despite having their 16-match unbeaten run snapped last week, Portmore have just two wins in eight games.

In the day’s other game, leaders Mount Pleasant entertain a resurgent Humble Lion, who have been beaten just once in the last four matches.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s games

Lime Hall vs Tivoli @ Drax Hall

Humble Lion vs Mount Pleasant @ Effortville

Dunbeholden vs Cavalier @ Dunbeholden field

Molynes vs Waterhouse @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

Arnett v Portmore @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

All games begin at 3:30 p.m.*