RSPL resumes with five games
THE 2013/2014 Red Stripe Premier League resumes today with sixth-round fixture, featuring five games across the country, and the sixth and final game slated for tomorrow night.
Leaders Humble Lion (12 points) welcome surprise package August Town (seven points), one of only two unbeaten teams thus far in the competition, to their Effortville Community Centre at 3:00 pm.
The Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Humble Lion have won all but one of their five outings to date, and losing the other, while August Town, though managing just a solitary victory, have proved difficult to beat, drawing the four remaining games.
Former champions Arnett Gardens, in the bottom half of the table on five points, host Montego Bay United, who are second in the standing on 10 points.
The hosts are expecting a reaction from their players, having lost coach Calvin Lewis, who resigned early last week. Former coach Jerome Waite has regained control of the team and already he has cited unfitness and other reasons as possible factors in the team’s lacklustre performances to date.
The junglists are joint top scorers in the league with eight goals, but sadly they have not been able to keep out the opposition with any degree of comfort, having conceded six goals.
Today’s visitors are on a high, having notched up three wins and a draw, and scoring eight goals as well, while allowing in just three.
Boys’ Town, on five points and just one place outside the relegation zone, will entertain newcomer Rivoli United, who are also on five points, but trail on goal difference.
Each side has managed just one win to accompany their two defeats and two draws, but Rivoli United’s inability to get goals should give the hosts the advantage today.
Tivoli Gardens are smarting from their penalty shoot-out loss to Waterhouse in the Flow Champions Cup last Monday night and Cavalier must be wary of a backlash when they visit Stadium East today.
Tivoli Gardens are in third place on nine points, while Cavalier head the bottom half of the table with seven points.
The most intriguing contest on the afternoon is between two of the most dominant teams in recent times, defending champions Harbour View and former champions Portmore United.
This contest takes place at Ferdie Neita Park amid reports that a change in the coaching staff at Portmore United is already a done deal. Unbelievably, Portmore United are firmly rooted at the bottom of the 12-team standing on just one point, and just one goal scored.
Harbour View, though on seven points and in sixth place, are hardly in a much healthier position, having managed just four goals, while conceding five.
Still, they have secured two wins and a draw, and this could play to their advantage today.TODAY’S GAMESTOMORROW’S GAME
6:00 pm Arnett Gardens vs Montego Bay United @ Anthony Spaulding Complex
3:00 pm Boys’ Town vs Rivoli United @ Collie Smith Drive
4:30 pm Cavalier vs Tivoli Gardens @ Stadium East
3:00 pm Humble Lion vs August Town @ Effortville Community Centre
7:00 pm Portmore United vs Harbour View @ Ferdie Neita Park
7:00 pm Waterhouse vs Sporting Central @ Drewsland