Best and worst of RSPL week 21

Best

Mount Pleasant

There is a new leader atop the Red Stripe Premier League. Mount Pleasant's 2-0 win over Vere United has seen them overtake Waterhouse for the top spot. Although the gap between the two teams is only one point, the Paul Davis- coached team has started 2020 in the right frame of mind as the home stretch of the regular season approaches. Kemar Beckford increased his goal tally this season to 11 with his 71st-minute effort, and is now in a three-way tie for second place in the golden boot race, one behind leader Dean-Andre Thomas. They will travel to the Harbour View Stadium to face Harbour View in the Monday night fixture, the first of two back-to-back meetings hoping to maintain their pole position.

Dunbeholden

Dunbeholden are asserting themselves into the picture as title contenders. The St Catherine-based club defeated Cavalier 2-0 on Sunday, their fourth win at home this season, to move into fifth place with 31 points, and have won three straight games for the first time this season. Last season, they accumulated 33 total points, managing to survive the drop, but this campaign, they are on pace to surpass that total. They travel to the Mona Bowl to face UWI before locking horns with Cavalier again the following week at Royal Lakes.

Humble Lion

Humble Lion are also poised to better last season's total of 35 points. They managed an impressive 2-0 away win against defending championships Portmore United at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday and maintain their fourth position with 33 points. They still have aspirations of getting into the top two, but will need to put together consecutive wins and hope that the teams above them falter. They will have to deal with two West Kingston opponents back-to-back at home starting with Tivoli Gardens on Sunday and Arnett Gardens next week.

Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens gave themselves significant breathing room from the drop zone with what head coach Philip Williams called their best game of the season. They overpowered Harbour View 3-0 at the Edward Seaga Complex and the visiting 'Stars of the East' had no answer to Tivoli's play throughout the 90 minutes. They are now in eighth place with 26 points, 11 points clear of the relegation places and are four points away from the top six. They have an outside shot at the play-offs, which makes their form down the stretch critical. They face a tricky encounter away to Humble Lion on Sunday.

Worst

Vere United

Vere United are 11 points from safety with the third round fast approaching. Their latest defeat against new league leaders Mount Pleasant is their 10th this season and now winless in eight games. Vere have 12 games remaining to forge a dramatic escape from the drop zone, but with each passing week, the chances of that are getting slimmer. They will host Waterhouse in back-to-back games set starting this Sunday.

Cavalier

Cavalier will be looking over their shoulder after their 2-0 defeat to play-off contenders Dunbeholden on Sunday. The result will be disappointing for technical director Rudolph Speid, who is still dealing with squad depth issues. Falling down to seventh place with 28 points will leave them uneasy, with Tivoli Gardens, Harbour View, and Molynes United on their tails. But Speid has confidence in the ability of his young players once integrated properly to return to the play-offs. They host Molynes United this weekend before resuming hostilities against Dunbeholden a week later.

Portmore United

The defending champions will need to find a solution to their attacking situation now that Cory Burke's return to Philadelphia Union is confirmed. They were beaten 2-0 by Humble Lion at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday and slumped one place down the standings to sixth with 30 points. Head coach Ricardo Gardner will have to be wary of dropping points at this juncture with Cavalier, Tivoli Gardens, and Harbour View at their heels for the final play-off spot. They will hope to maintain their standing when they host Arnett Gardens this Sunday.

Harbour View

Harbour View's patience with Damion Stewart has run out. The 3-0 defeat to Tivoli Gardens on Sunday was the last straw as he was dismissed as head coach yesterday. Ludlow Bernard, who left the role in 2017, will return to take the reigns on an interim basis and will be tasked with saving the club's season. It is troubling that the 'Stars of the East' have been forced to make two coaching changes this year with little improvements shown. Bernard will have a tough first assignment when they begin a two game set with league leaders Mount Pleasant at the Harbour View Stadium on Sunday.