Cavalier and Tivoli tangle at Stadium East

Photo: Tivoli Gardens FC coach Omar Edwards will take his team to the Stadium East Field today to take on Cavalier SC in search of their second win of the season. Cavalier has also won only one game from four starts this season and will be looking for a home win today.

With four games played so far in the Red Stripe Premier League, four teams are locked on four points, two of whom will meet this Sunday on match day five. Cavalier SC who returned to the RSPL after one season out, will tackle a Tivoli Gardens team who at one stage last season, looked like real title contenders. Cavalier and Tivoli tangle at Stadium East

Both clubs began the season with back to back losses but after picking up four points in their subsequent two fixtures, life has been breathed into their respective seasons. Goal difference separates Cavalier (seventh) from Tivoli (eighth) and both teams will be looking for maximum points to push into the top six, even at this early stage of the competition.

Cavalier drew with the other promoted team, Sandals South Coast last weekend, taking an early first half lead through Chevone “Messi” Marsh but were pegged back by Timar Lawrence a minute before the interval. Junior McGregor came off the bench to score a beautiful free kick for Tivoli Gardens in live Monday Night football to earn Tivoli their first win of the season against Harbour View. With momentum on their side, the West Kingston based team will be looking for another three points, despite having to travel yet again.

For coach Rudolph Speid the issue of goal scoring continues to haunt his team with their current goal difference being -1 with only three goals scored. Tivoli Gardens has nothing to smile about in that area either, as they too have a -1 goal difference in a season where they are yet to play at home at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. Two goals from four games is a woeful return by any standard.

Former schoolboy stand out Alex Marshall is one of the attacking players that Speid will be hoping will come good this season and with points now on the board; confidence should be coming to the dressing room and the player who is making his premier league debut this term.

The goals have not been coming like they did for Jermaine “Teddy” Johnson last season, but Tivoli Gardens will be hoping that the former Reggae Boy will catch afire any time now and help to propel them up the tables in short order.

Having just eased away from the relegation zone, both teams will be keen on the continued upward climb to mid-table and beyond, which should make for a highly entertaining game on the immaculate Stadium East surface.

Coach Omar Edwards is not afraid to adapt his tactics to counter the opposition as he explained after inflicting the first defeat on Harbour View at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Heroes Day. This means that personnel and team tactics may be completely different to what was seen on television six days ago.

Speid is a fan of youth, Edwards uses a mixture of youth and experience, Speid likes his team to pass the ball around, especially on their spacious home ground, but Edwards will use whatever football tactic he deems fit for the occasion. Expect different playing styles today, but expect two teams determined to get three more points in this 3:30pm kick off.

The other match day five games are: FC Reno v UWI FC @ Frome Complex, Portmore United v Humble Lion @ Prison Oval both at 3:30pm – Montego Bay United v Sandals South Coast at the Montego Bay Sports Complex @ 6:30pm – Harbour View v Waterhouse FC at the Harbour View Stadium @ 7pm. The Monday Night game is the first Collie Smith Drive Derby of the season, Arnett Gardens will host Boys Town at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 8:35pm.