Mount Pleasant and Arnett Clash at Drax Hall
MOUNT Pleasant FA and Arnett Gardens FC, first and second in the Jamaica Premier League, are set to meet in what could be a mouth-watering second-round game at Drax Hall, St Ann, today at 3:00 pm.
Three points separate the teams that are coming off wins on Monday and this game is expected to headline the day, with five games scheduled and two more set for Monday night.
Despite their gaudy records and statistics, the game could be a repeat of their first-round 1-1 draw in mid-October, as both teams also top the table with the least goals conceded.
Mount Pleasant have won eight straight and are unbeaten in their last 10 games, conceding just five goals in that span — including two against Racing United in a 3-2 win last week.
Arnett are unbeaten in their last four games, allowing a single goal.
Mount Pleasant’s 44 goals are by far the most by any team after 17 games, with Arnett fifth best on 25 goals.
Shaquille Bradford has been on a tear for Mount Pleasant, taking over from Kimonie Bailey who led the team early. Both are tied on nine goals.
Bradford, who was credited with two goals against Racing on Monday, has scored in five of Mount Pleasant’s last six games. Raheem Edwards has been just as lethal, with his seven goals coming in their nine outings.
Warner Brown and Kimani Arbouine have combined for 15 of Arnett’s 24 goals, and they could be the players to take the game to Mount Pleasant today.
Portmore United will be hoping for back-to-back wins for the first time since early November, when they host relegation-threatened Harbour View at Ferdie Neita Park.
Portmore snapped a seven-game winless run last week, beating Vere Phoenix United 2-0, and will be seeking a second win over the east Kingston-based club today.
Waterhouse FC will hope to solidify their place in the top six when they play away to Vere at Wembley Centre of Excellence, and will hope to beat the Clarendon team a second time this season.
Waterhouse are coming off a loss to Tivoli Gardens but are four points ahead of them and will hope to maintain their distance.
Tivoli have been steadily making up for a slow start and will be seeking to atone for their 2-1 loss to Dunbeholden FC when they meet at Edward Seaga Sports Complex in Tivoli today.
Tivoli, who edged Waterhouse last week, are unbeaten in their last four games and will be up against a Dunbeholden team that are winless in their last seven games and hovering over the relegation spots.
In the other game scheduled, Chapelton Maroons will hope for a win over Humble Lion in a Clarendon derby as they seek to maintain mid-table safety.
Chapelton have taken only two points from their last three games and are four points from the relegation places, despite being five spots above the last two places.
Sunday’s games:
Mt Pleasant FA vs Arnett Gardens – Drax Hall Sports Complex @ 3:00 pm
Humble Lion vs Chapelton Maroons – Effortville Community Centre @ 3:00 pm
Tivoli Gardens vs Dunbeholden FC – Edward Seaga Sports Complex @ 3:00 pm
Portmore United vs Harbour View – Ferdie Neita Park @ 3:00 pm
Vere Phoenix United vs Waterhouse FC – Wembley Centre of Excellence @ 3:00 pm