Portmore aim to take down Arnett

Third-place Arnett Gardens Football Club travel to Ferdi Neita Park this afternoon to face fourth-place Portmore United in the feature Jamaica Premier League (JPL) football game, at 3:30 p.m. While Arnett are eyeing a return to second place in the table, Portmore’s coach Rodolph Austin has his sights set on claiming third spot before the round concludes.

Arnett have 67 points, seven clear of Portmore, and two less than Montego Bay United FC in second place.

A win for the ‘Junglists’ would push them one point ahead of MoBay United, while a win for Portmore would cut Arnett’s advantage to four points with three games to go in the third and final round of matches.

Austin said with their playoff spot virtually secured, players tend to get complacent. However, he noted that they are guarding against that, as the aim is to win all their remaining games and try to climb higher up the table.

“One of the hardest things is to keep players focused, especially when things are going good. Some people become a bit complacent and believe they don’t have to switch on,” he said..

“We want to win all our games. The aim is to finish third, as high as we can. So we want to approach all games like that,” Austin stated.

He pointed out that the hectic schedule has taken a toll on the players physically, and that they have had to manage players as best as they can ahead of the playoffs.

“It can be a bit challenging on the body when you play Sunday-Wednesday. Some of the players are not really used to it,” Austin said.

“They are used to two rounds and now they have gone to three. It takes its toll and we just have to try to help them recover as quickly as possible. All the teams are going through it. We just have to manage them and come again,” he stated.

Arnett have gone three games without a win in the league, but after a 0-0 draw against archrivals Tivoli Gardens FC in their last game, assistant coach Fabian Taylor expressed confidence of a return to winning ways.

“We are very confident. We have a confident bunch and we are just working to improve each and every day going into the playoffs,” Taylor said.

“It’s a dogfight (for positions) going into the last four, five games, and we are up to the task. This is work in progress and we are looking to improve going into the playoffs. We can only can get better,” he declared.

BATTLE FOR SIXTH

Meanwhile, in the battle for sixth spot, Tivoli Gardens will look to extend Vere Phoenix’s winless run to eight matches, when the teams meet at Wembley.

Tivoli Gardens, who are unbeaten in their last eight matches, will start overwhelming favourites.

Vere Phoenix are bottom of the standings with 23 points, six adrift Molynes United and nine behind Humble Lions. Defeat for them today would all but condemn the Clarendon team to lower tier football next season.

Tivoli are seventh in the table on 48 points, one behind sixth place Waterhouse, who will have a much tougher task getting three points against the improving Humble Lions.

However, playing at home, Waterhouse will be favoured to get the better of their opponent.

Cavalier, the defending champions, will go for a third straight win, when they face Harbour View at Harbour View.

Harbour View are only three points above the relegation zone and are desperate for points, but against a Cavalier team returning to form, it will be difficult for the home team to get a positive result from the game.

Harbour View are 11th on 32 points, the same as 12th place Humble Lions, while Cavalier are fifth on 56.

At Dunbeholden Sports Complex, two of the teams with the longest winless run, Dunbeholden FC and Molynes United, will square off for much needed points.

Molynes are 13th and second-from-bottom with 29 points,while Dunbeholden are on 33 points, four points clear of the drop zone.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

TODAY’S MATCHES

Portmore v Arnett at Ferdi Neita Park at 3.30 p.m.

Harbour View v Cavalier at Harbour View mini stadium at 3.30 p.m.

Dunbeholden v Molynes at Dunbeholden Sports Complex at 3.30 p.m.

Vere v Tivoli at Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3.30.

Waterhouse v Humble Lion at Drewsland mini stadium at 6 p.m.