1 year ago
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SEVENTH-PLACE TIVOLI Gardens will look to continue their good run in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and gain ground on the top six when they face fifth-place Waterhouse in the feature game of a double-header at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium at 5:30 p.m.
In the opening game at 3 p.m., Chapelton Maroons play Molynes United.
At the Dunbeholden Sports Complex, Dunbeholden take on Cavalier, Harbour View host Humble Lion at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium, and Vere Phoenix entertain Portmore at Wembley Centre of Excellence. All games start at 3 p.m.
Tivoli are on 20 points, four points behind Portmore in sixth and seven adrift of their opponents.
However, the Jerome Waite-coached team have been in good form over their last six matches, with four wins and one draw, and Waite is hoping they can continue their charge up the table.
“Yes (we are looking to make the push) and I know it is possible (to get into the top six). And all we are going to do is continue working,” he said.
Tivoli lost a number of key players to other clubs before the start of the season, and, during the January transfer window, their leading scorer last season, Justin Dunn was added to that list. Dunn is on loan to Cavalier.
The club’s leading scorer this season, Anthony Nelson, might also miss the fixture, as he is still nursing injuries from a motorcycle accident over the holidays.
“You will miss a Dunn, knowing the fact that we was one of the better players last season. Still struggling to find his form (this season) due to overweight problems.
“He (Nelson) crashed and had some damages and we are hoping he’ll come back as soon as possible,” Waite said.
Despite their good run, Tivoli have conceded six goals over the last six games and Waite said they must tighten up defensively if they are to return to winning ways after playing to a 1-1 draw with Portmore in their last match.
“This is the level where you have to minimise mistakes as it relates to defending. You can’t be giving up so many unnecessary goals,” he insists.
On the other hand, Waterhouse have been short of form over the last seven games.
Although they came back to score a morale boosting 2-2 draw with Cavalier in their last game, Marcel Gayle knows one win in seven matches is not good enough for his demanding supporters.
However, he took heart from their last game. “We were balanced and it is a testimony to the hard work that we have been putting in.
“I see character in Waterhouse that I didn’t see earlier in the season. We never stop fighting. We never stop playing, and that is something we can build on,” he said.
Gayle was also pleased to see last season’s JPL topscorer, Javane Bryan, who scored the late equaliser against Cavalier, back on the scoresheet for his fourth of the season.
“Javane is the top goalscorer from last season, so there’s a price. There’s a bounty on his head. He just needs to stay disciplined and focused right throughout the season,” Gayle added.
In the opener, eighth-place Chapelton and ninth-place Molynes, both tied on 16 points, will face off for the sole right for eighth spot.
Molynes come into the game in better form with two wins in as many games. But, despite a loss in their last outing, Chapelton have taken seven points from their last four matches and will still be confident of a result.
At Dunbeholden, fourth-place Cavalier (28) will look to end their run of two games without a win when they tackle hosts who have not tasted victory in six matches and have dropped to 12th with 15 points.
At Wembley, Vere (16), boosted by a win over Humble Lion and their January signings, will aim for a second successive victory against a Portmore team, which has not won in the last seven outings.
In the bottom-of-the-table clash at Harbour View, the two teams will be hoping to get one over the other in the battle against relegation.
Harbour View are 13th on 12 points and Humble Lion, 14th on 10. Both teams have four defeats and one draw in their last five games, suggesting any number can play in this one.
Mount Pleasant lead the league with 37 points, followed by Montego Bay United and Arnett on 34.
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