Having just failed to make last season’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL) play-off by virtue of a slightly inferior goal difference, Humble Lion’s Head coach Andrew Price is celebrating their success so far this season as a redemption of sorts. However, he remains mindful that there is still much for his team to do if they are to go all the way and be crowned champions.

The Clarendon outfit not only secured a play-off berth for the first time since 2017, but they will enter that business round on a four-match unbeaten run, after holding Waterhouse Football Club to a goalless stalemate in a lively encounter at Drewsland on Sunday.

With the point, Humble Lion ended the regular season in fifth on 42 points and will ironically lock horns with fourth-placed Harbour View (44 points), who edged them out last season, when play-off action gets under way on May 15.

The other encounter will see Dunbeholden FC (41 points), who defeated Mount Pleasant 3-1 on Sunday, to clinch the final play-off spot, in a rematch with the St Ann team, which ended third on 46 points.

The winner of those two games, to be decided across two legs, will meet the top two finishers Arnett Gardens (55 points) and Cavalier FC (52 points) in the semi-finals.

“It has been a long time coming, so I must commend the youngsters for the shift that they put in all season,” Price told journalists in a post-game interview. “They worked hard and despite a lot of challenges, they stuck to the task and we are here [in the play-offs] now.

“But the work has really just began because we want more. We look at it as five more games to challenge for the Premier League title, that’s what we are in the play-offs for and that’s what our goal is,” he added.

Price pointed out that last season’s heartbreak of just missing the playoffs, which was compounded by the fact that Harbour View went on to win the title in superb fashion, was used as added motivation to achieve their first objective.

“Last year we made our move a bit late; we missed the playoff by one goal and the team that finished sixth ended up winning the league. So we definitely saw that as encouragement to work hard and keep in the top six the entire season,” he said.

“The first goal was to maintain our position in the top six the entire league, and we did that and now we want more success. So once you’re in it (play-off) then you have an opportunity to win the title, so we are going to work hard and diligently and see where it leads us.”

The marquee contest at Drewsland was expected to serve up much excitement, especially with Waterhouse being one of three teams in with a shot at the final play-off spot at that point.

It didn’t disappoint.

While there were no goals to celebrate, it wasn’t for a lack of opportunities, as both teams had their fair share of goalmouth action to snare all three points, but for faulty shooting and some good glovework by both Kemar Foster of Waterhouse and his counterpart Prince Daniel-Smith, at times.

Waterhouse had the better of play in the latter stages of the contest with Shaqueil Bradford, Ramone Howell, and Andre Fletcher, all failing to hit the mark.

For Price, the fight and determination shown by his team to secure another shutout, speak volumes of their defensive effort, having only conceded 15 times in their 26 games.

“It showed a level of professionalism that we have developed over the last two years and I think we have a stronger mentality this year,” he said. “We have the record as the best defensive team for the entire season and we pride ourselves on that. We didn’t give up a goal today and we are proud about that. But now we have to get back to work and prepare ourselves for the first round of the play-off.”

Waterhouse head coach Marcel Gayle accepted their fate, as he focused on the positives of the season. They finished in eighth position on 39 points.

“When we looked back at how we started I think we finished stronger, so kudos must be given to the guys, they came out and they fought hard,” Gayle said. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t get the maximum today but it’s just one of those things. We just have to look back and reflect on what we did right throughout the season and just build on those.”

Sunday’s results

Faulkland 4, Chapelton Maroons 4

Waterhouse FC 0, Humble Lion 0

Montego Bay United 1, Cavalier 2

Portmore United 3, Molynes United 0

Arnett Gardens 4, Tivoli Gardens 1

Harbour View 0, Vere United 0

Dunbeholden FC 3, Mount Pleasant 1