Cavalier lead but can they maintain in the RSPL

After the match between Boys Town FC and Rivoli United on Monday night, a third of the first round of the 2014-2015 edition of the Red Stripe Premier League should have been completed. However, the Chikungunya Virus has had such a huge impact on the league that only five teams have completed four games. A number of fixtures have had to be rescheduled as clubs struggle to find enough fit players to play week in week out.

While last season’s beaten finalists Waterhouse FC has managed to play only two games so far, they have gathered the full six points, scoring four goals without conceding to sit in third position behind Arnett Gardens who have seven points from three games and surprise package Cavalier SC who have eight points from four games,
stunning defending champions Montego Bay United 1-0 on match day four on their way to top spot in the league.

Cavalier will fancy their chances of remaining at the top of the league after match-day 5 as they will travel to bottom of the table Humble Lion who has failed to spark in front of goal despite signing Rivoli United legend and hitman Devon Hodges during the transfer window. Humble Lion has played four games while managing a single point. The four goals they have scored has been swamped by the seven conceded. Director of Football at the club, Craig Butler insists that Humble Lion are on the right path and will be climbing up the tables in short order. The question is, does club chairman Mike Henry agree with that assessment?

Former champions Harbour View FC and Boys Town FC will meet on Sunday at 6:00pm at the National Stadium, in what is one of the most storied clashes in top flight football in the country. While neither team has been able to dominate the league like days of old, this game usual defies the form book based on the history between the two clubs.

The match will be the first time that Xavian Virgo will face the “Stars of the East” since his return to his home club. Harbour View in 10th position, has two points from three games having drawn two and lost one and are looking up at Boys Town who jumped from the foot of the table to 7th position following their win over Humble Lion. Harbour View will be looking to bag their first win of the season and get in and amongst the teams at the top while the Red Brigade will look to continue their climb up the tables.

Before those two teams meet however, newly promoted and still unbeaten Barbican FC will face Rivoli United at 4:00pm. Rivoli United are in 5th position on five points and a confident Calvin Fitzgerald believes his team has enough to inflict the first defeat on Barbican today.

Barbican has two draws from their two encounters so far and Junior Francis believes his team is capable of beating any team on any given day. A draw seems unlikely in this encounter despite Barbican’s current record.

Reno FC has returned to the premier league like a team that never left. Fourth placed on five points, they travel to a vulnerable Tivoli Gardens hunting three points and looking to heap more misery on the Alvin Shaw coached team. The West Kingston team needs to end their poor start to the league and will hope to do so at the expense of the travellers today.

Defending champions Montego Bay United has had a Jekyll and Hyde start to the defence of their title. One win, one draw and two losses see them languishing in mid-table with four points and must be looking to put a good run together starting at home today against a Sporting Central Academy team that has three points from two games. With both teams being inconsistent so far, this game can go either way or end in a draw.

The Monday Night fixture sees second Arnett Gardens host third placed Waterhouse at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.