WITH one win and two losses to their name so far, Molynes United has started the 2022/23 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) campaign much like they ended last season — inconsistently.

However, the Alex Thomas-coached team have an opportunity to turn things around as they face another inconsistent outfit in Vere United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex today.

This 3:00 pm encounter between 10th-place Molynes (three points) and 12th-place Vere United (two points) will serve as the curtain-raiser of a double-header, with last year’s beaten finalists Dunbeholden, in eighth on four points, tackling fourth-place Cavalier (six points) in the feature contest.

In another double-header at Wespow Park, newcomers Faulkland, in 13th place and without a point, will take on fifth-place Tivoli Gardens (four points) at 1:00 pm, while third-place Montego Bay United (seven points) and second-place Arnett Gardens (seven points) are set to lock horns in the 3:15 pm feature.

Elsewhere, leaders and defending champions Harbour View (seven points) will travel to Effortville Community Centre for a 3:00 pm meeting with sixth-place Humble Lions (four points).

Though it is still early days yet, Molynes United should be mindful that unlike last season when they ended 11th on 15 points and stayed up, this season will see two teams being relegated. As such, they should be aiming to round into some semblance of early form to ensure they are competitive throughout, starting with today’s outing.

After opening with a 1-2 loss to Waterhouse, Molynes United rebounded to clip Humble Lions 3-2 but followed that with a 0-1 loss to Montego Bay United.

Thomas, who took over from Garnett Lawrence ahead of the season, will be hoping they can bounce back and start a ladder ascension.

The same is true for Vere United who will go in search of their first win, having only secured 1-1 and 0-0 stalemate against Tivoli and Portmore, respectively, with a 0-3 loss to Cavalier in-between.

A win today would do their confidence a world of good going forward as they seek to better their ninth-place finish from last season.

The feature between 2021 champions Cavalier and last year’s beaten finalists Dunbeholden should be a keenly contested fixture.

Both teams are already off to a fairly decent start, with Cavalier recording two wins and a loss so far while Dunbeholden has won one, drawn one and lost one. The quality that both teams possess is no secret, which means this one could go either way.

Over in the West, Montego Bay United will be aiming to maintain their positive start — which is a stark contrast to how they performed last season — as they put their unbeaten record on the line against Arnett Gardens who are also unbeaten.

Both teams have so far registered two wins and one draw, with the “Junglists” being the more fearsome force in front of goal, scoring five goals to Montego Bay United’s three.

Another win for Donovan Duckie’s side would be their third on the trot but it will no means be easy against a talented Arnett Gardens unit seeking to right the wrongs of their midweek stalemate with Portmore United.

Before that, Faulkland, who have so far lost all three games, could see their struggles to find their footing in the nation’s top-flight prolonged as Tivoli Gardens, hunting a second win in three games, are expected to do them no favours.

In the central part of the island, league leaders Harbour View will have a testy date against Clarendon outfit Humble Lions in their backyard.

With Harbour View just inching them out for a play-off spot on their way to winning a long-awaited title Andrew Price’s Humble Lions should have much to prove, but execution — particularly in the attacking third — will be key to their chances of taking all the points off the high-riding “Stars of the East”.

Meanwhile, last season’s table-toppers Waterhouse, who currently sit 11th on three points, are favoured to return to winning ways after suffering consecutive defeats.

This, as they face the other newcomers in Chapelton FC who are currently at the foot of the now 14-team standing without a point.

They meet in the 5:00 pm curtain-raiser of the Monday night double-header, with seventh-place Mount Pleasant (four points) and ninth-place Portmore United (three points) set to battle it out in the 7:30 pm feature at the Stadium East field.

Sunday’s games

1:00 pm: Faulkland vs Tivoli @ Wespow Park

3:15 pm: Montego Bay United vs Arnett Gardens @ Wespow Park

3:00 pm: Humble Lions vs Harbour View @ Effortville Community Centre

3:00 pm: Molynes United vs Vere United @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

5:30 pm: Cavalier vs Dunbeholden @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

Monday’s games

5:00 pm: Waterhouse vs Chapelton @ Stadium East

7:30 pm: Mount Pleasant vs Portmore United @ Stadium East

— Sherdon Cowan