'It feels like a win' - Under-strength Cavalier hold Mt Pleasant as TG go top

With five key players not available due to national duties, Rudolph Speid's Cavalier SC are celebrating last night's 1-1 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) draw with Mount Pleasant at the Stadium East field.

In the top-of-the-table clash at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, Tivoli Gardens (16 points) clipped hosts Portmore United (14 points) 1-0, courtesy of a strike by Andre Dawson to leapfrog the defending champions into first place. Humble Lion continue their positive run with a 2-0 win over fellow cellar-dwellers Harbour View at Effortville, with Romeo Wright and Levaughn Williams getting the goals.

At Stadium East, Cavalier outplayed a Mount Pleasant team that is filled with experienced players after spending heavily in the off-season.

Speid said he flirted with the thought of asking the Jamaica Football Federation to postpone the fixture with Jaedin White, Nicque Daley, Jamoi Topey, St Michael Edwards and Tevin Rochester all off the island on national duty with the Jamaica Under-20 team, but decided to test his coaching skills.

"I played with a really undermanned team. We have five players in the Under-20 team performing well and I have three players out with injuries," Speid said. "I could have asked for a postponement, but I decided I was going to test my skills against the most expensive team and we did well."

He continued: "It was total domination from us in the first half. We had the ball for the majority of the time and we created numerous chances. It was a real high-class display from our players."

Nicholas Nelson put the black and whites in front in the 68th minute before Kemar Beckford found the equaliser 10 minutes before full time.

While he tried to contain Speid's young charges, Mount Pleasant's coach Donovan Duckie said he knew the Cavalier team would pose a tough challenge.

"I know about their project and I know they would be tough today and we prepared for them and contained them for a bit in the first half," Duckie said. "They (Cavalier) are in the third year of their project and I am expecting them to be a contender for the title."

Cavalier's Jermy Nelson (90th minute) and Mount Pleasant's Kevin Graham (90+2) were both sent off shortly before the final whistle.

In tonight's feature game, Arnett Gardens will face Montego Bay United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 8:35.

Red Stripe Premier League Results:

Portmore United 0- 1 Tivoli Gardens

Reno 2-1 Dunbeholden

Humble Lion 2-0 Harbour View

UWI vs Waterhouse (match suspended due to heavy rain)