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Harbour View aim to improve after losing JPL opener
September 17, 2024
After their 12th-place finish in last season's Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Harbour View were hoping for a positive start to this campaign, especially after they were facing promoted team Chapelton Maroons in their opening match.
However, things did not go according to plan, as the promoted team held off the former champions to claim a valuable 2-1 victory in the first match of a doubleheader at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday evening.
In the feature match, Waterhouse FC defeated Racing United 1-0. Atapharoy Bygrave scored the winning goal, netting at the 51st minute.
Senior Harbour View central defender Romaine Breakenridge believes they are way better than their performance on Monday suggests.
"We didn't execute the way we should. But going forward we will definitely fix things," he said. "We are Harbour View and we are not here to finish where we did last year. We are a championship team. We have five stars on our chest and we have to represent. We will take it a game at a time. But we are here to win."
Breakenridge said a lack of experience also contributed to their downfall, but noted that with other players due to come in they will get it right in time.
"We are a young unit. We weren't tactically disciplined and that is something we need to work on. We will continue to work and believe in the coach's plan. But it's still early days," he said..
"Despite the result the guys came out and tried their best. But we have to improve on this going forward. We have a long season ahead. We have players still to come in but the Harbour View you saw today, you can expect better things going forward," he commented.
Chapelton were better at the start and Javel Ellis came close with a strike just over the bar. Moments later, Gawain Austin cleared Diego McKenzie's effort off the line.
However, Chapelton jumped in front when goalkeeper Romario Palma blundered and Ellis scored from a yard out.
Harbour View equalised in the 59th minute after Tahair Lawrence's shot across the face of goal was turned home by Andre Fagan.
Nevertheless, that scoreline did not last long as Chapelton reclaimed the lead moments later, after Nathaniel Howe dismissed his marker and fired home.
Chapelton coach O'Neil Thompson was pleased to start with a win.
"Every team in the Premier League is prepared to win their first game. Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it goes against you, so I feel extremely pleased to start off the season with three points," he said.
