Portmore United surges to top of the pile in RSPL for first time this season

File Photo: Portmore United defender Damano Solomon in action for the club earlier this season.

Portmore United climbed to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League for the first time in the 2016-2017 season when they registered their third win on the trot on Wednesday, clipping former league leaders UWI FC 1-0 at the UWI Mona Bowl. An 87^th minute strike from Maalique Foster was enough to earn all three points for the visitors on a day when all six games played in the league, ended in 1-0 score lines.

Portmore United now have 21 points, one more than their opponents who were losing two games on the trot for the first time this season. UWI now sits 3^rd, level on points with second place Humble Lion, who have a better goal difference.

Humble Lion failed to hold on to the top spot at the end of round one as they went down to a 35^th minute strike from Tivoli’s Elon Thompson at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. It was the first loss for Humble Lion in four games, as they had registered two wins and draw in their last three outings.

The win moves Tivoli Gardens up to 17 points and sixth place in the twelve team league.

The amazing freefall of Jamalco FC continued unabated as they suffered their sixth loss on the trot. The team that had set the tone in September, when they registered four consecutive wins after losing on the first day, have completely lost the plot and sit two spots outside the relegation zone after topping the tables at the end of September.

The Clarendon based team were undone by Dino Williams who had needed just seven minutes to find the back of the net. The early goal was enough to see the defending champions Montego Bay United, move up to 19 points and fourth place with a game in hand.

Boys Town are in danger of being cut adrift after they suffered their fourth loss in five games when they were edged 1-0 by Arnett Gardens in the Collie Smith Derby which was played at the Barbican Field. Andrew Phang grabbed the winner late on when he scored in the 77^th minute.

Arnett Gardens sit in 5^th place on 18 points but have a game in hand against the defending champions Mobay United who are just one spot above on 19 points.

Marverley/Hughenden had a fairly decent start to the season but have found the going tough in the last few weeks, suffering back to back defeats following a string of drawn games. They fell to the resurgent Harbour View FC when they were stunned by a Hugh Evans stoppage time winner at the Constant Spring Field.

Marverley’s  ten points sees them dangerously perched in 10^th place, one spot above the relegation zone but tied on points with their main rivals, 11^th placed Waterhouse FC. Harbour View who had taken up residency at the foot of the table for some weeks, have now climbed out of the relegation zone to be in 8^th place on 12 points after picking up eight points in their last four games.

Waterhouse FC who seemed to be heading in the right direction recently after picking up 4 points in two games, have slipped back into the relegation zone after going down 1-0 to Reno courtesy of a Romario Smith’s 5^th minute strike at Drewsland. The Westmoreland based Reno  was registering their second straight win, after a series of drawn games and are currently on spot out of a semi-final place in 7^th place on 16 points.

So with a full eleven games played by all teams except Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens who sit fourth and fifth respectively, the league has now taken some shape. The bottom four teams, Jamalco FC, Marverley/Hughenden FC, Waterhouse FC and Boys Town FC may be in for a much tougher season than they would have imagined at the start of the league in September.

The top six teams, Portmore United, Humble Lion FC, UWI FC, Montego Bay United, Arnett Gardens FC and Tivoli Gardens FC  will be looking to separate themselves from the chasing pack.

Reno FC and Harbour View FC who are 7^th and 8^th respectively, will be harbouring thoughts of a top six finish which guarantees play-off football.