Waterhouse FC’s battle to escape relegation continues today with their clash against Kingston & St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) rivals Cavalier SC in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match at Stadium East field.

The game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm.

Former national champions Waterhouse, who parted ways with Head Coach Paul Young after he failed to extricate them from relegation threat, are at the foot of the table with 21 points from 25 games.

The hosts Cavalier are seventh with 30 points and hopeful of a semi-final spot.

Though Cavalier are ahead in the RSPL standing, it is Waterhouse who have held the edge in head-to-head this season. The Drewsland-based club won 1-0 at home before the teams drew 4-4 in the return game at Stadium East. Waterhouse were also 2-0 winners in the Jackie Bell Knockout tournament.

Nicholy Finlayson, the Waterhouse defender, says it will not be easy against Cavalier.

“It’s a difficult game coming this Sunday against Cavalier. We have to put our best foot forward and win games from now to the end of the season,” he said.

“We are in the drop zone so winning is a must for Waterhouse. It is going to be tough because we are in relegation zone and no team will take us lightly; every team will want to sink us,” Finlayson told the Jamaica Observer.

The assistant coach of Cavalier, Toni Cowan, says the 1-nil win over Harbour View FC in their last outing has boosted team morale.

“Coming from the one-love victory we had at Harbour View recently, we are very confident,” she said.

“In my estimation we always get the better of Waterhouse, but it is lack of goalscoring or mistakes that make them get the three points in some of those games. The last time it was a 4-4 draw in the league so we are looking to start off strongly against them and hopefully keep them out this time,” Cowan continued.

Though keeping an eye on a semi-final spot, Cavalier also have to be careful of slipping into relegation danger.

“We’re very hungry because relegation is something that’s still very serious and something we might fall into if we don’t perform in these coming weeks. It’s close to the bottom of the table and fourth spot is just right there,” said the Cavalier assistant coach.

In another battle between KSAFA teams, eighth-placed Boys’ Town FC (30 points) travel to fifth-placed University of the West Indies (34 points) at Mona Bowl, starting at 3 pm.

Also at 3 o’ clock, third-placed Portmore United (46 points) welcome sixth-placed Harbour View (33 points) to Juici Park in Clarendon.

At Edward Seaga Sports Complex, 10th-placed Tivoli Gardens FC (29 points) entertain Humble Lion, who are fourth on 36 points, in a match set to begin at 3:00 in the afternoon.

In the live, televised RSPL Monday Night fixture, the defending champions Arnett Gardens FC are set to battle the lowly placed visitors Rivoli United at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Arnett are second with 49 points, but they have two games in hand on leaders Montego Bay United (54 points). Rivoli are struggling in 11th position with 22 points.

While the top four teams at the end of 33 preliminary games will advance to the semi-finals, the two teams with fewest points will be demoted.

Today’s games

3:00 pm – Portmore vs Harbour View @ Juici Park3:00 pm – Tivoli Gardens vs Humble Lion @ Edward Seaga Complex3:00 pm – UWI vs Boys’ Town @ Mona Bowl5:00 pm – Cavalier vs Waterhouse @ Stadium East8:40 pm – Arnett Gardens vs Rivoli United @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

3:00 pm – Portmore vs Harbour View @ Juici Park

3:00 pm – Tivoli Gardens vs Humble Lion @ Edward Seaga Complex

3:00 pm – UWI vs Boys’ Town

@ Mona Bowl

5:00 pm – Cavalier vs Waterhouse

@ Stadium East

Tomorrow’s game

8:40 pm – Arnett Gardens vs Rivoli United @ Anthony Spaulding Complex