Cavalier take over JPL’s top position

by

January 18, 2024

Photo

Cavalier’s Dwayne Atkinson (left) is chased by Harbour View’s Rohan Brown in their Jamaica Premier League fixture at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. Cavalier won 1-0.

Cavalier defeated 10-man Harbour 1-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday and are now the new leaders of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

A 74th-minute goal from 19-year-old Jerome McLeary secured the three points for the Rudolph Speid-coached Cavalier, who climbed to the summit of the JPL with 30 points after previous leaders Mount Pleasant and Portmore played to a 1-1 draw.

Mount Pleasant dropped to second in the table on 29 points, one more than Portmore and two ahead of Tivoli Gardens and Arnett Gardens.

Harbour View went down to 10 players in the 77th minute when Okeemo Jones was on the end of a second yellow card.

Meanwhile, at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium, Tivoli turned back hosts Waterhouse 1-0 on Odean Pennycook's 13th-minute header from a free kick.

Tivoli remained fourth on 27 points, similar to Arnett, but are now eight points clear of Waterhouse in seventh.

Waterhouse's coach, Marcel Gayle, believes the league is combative this season.

"It is the most competitive Premier League ever. At any time, a win can propel you to a different position in the standings, but we want to fix our thing and get it right. We have been giving up goals. In 14 games, we have conceded 13 goals. That is unlike us," Gayle said.

Tivoli's coach, Jerome Waite, believes it was an excellent result to kick-start their second-round campaign.

"This is the second round. It is crunch time, and we need every point to ensure we are in the top six," Waite commented.

At Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore and Mount Pleasant settled for a 1-1 draw.

Stephen Young fired Portmore in front after 15 minutes, but despite going down to 10 men in the 73rd minute, Mount Pleasant salvaged a point through Daniel Green's added-time equaliser.

Meanwhile, Montego Bay United and their new-look strike force eased past Lime Hall 3-0, as Owayne 'Turtle Man' Gordon got a goal on his second outing for them on his return after playing overseas.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com