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Vere, Harbour View in second place battle in JPL

Jamaica Premier League, Vere United, Harbour View, Ludlow Bernard, Donovan Duckie

Photo: Vere United Head coach Donovan Duckie will be hoping that his team can continue to punch above their weight when they take on Harbour View this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Vere United and Harbour FC will both put their unbeaten record on the line when they face each other in the early kickoff on Saturday, as match week five gets going in the Jamaica Premier League.

The game is set for 1:00pm at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence  after the weekend’s fixtures were once again switched from the National Stadium.

Vere and Harbour View are two of the three unbeaten teams in the league, the other being Waterhouse FC, who will play on Monday.

Harbour View and Vere have identical records of two wins and two draws from four games and are separated by goal difference only, their eight points placing them second and third respectively.

Harbour View have scored six goals so far this season, the same as leaders Portmore United and fourth place Cavalier FC, while Vere have found the back of the net four times.

In Oquassa Chong, Harbour View boast the league’s leading scorer with four goals, with the striker finding the back of the net in each game he has played so far. He opened the scoring from the penalty spot during their 2-0 win over Dunbeholden FC last match day and will be looking to add to his tally today.

Vere United has punched above their weight this season, their defensive solidity being that catalyst that has propelled them up the table, when many expected them to be propping up the league, much like they did during the 2019-2020 aborted season.

Vere have one of the meanest defenses in the league, conceding only one goal so far, a penalty against Humble Lion in the Clarendon derby which they won 3-1 last Sunday. Ricardo Messam had a double in the derby and was named “Star Balla of the Week”. He will be hoping to repeat his exploits as Vere bid to continue to surprise.

Against Humble Lion, Vere went away from their usual defensive style of play, but against Harbour View, coach Donovan Duckie is unlikely to play on the front foot, especially when faced with a quick and lethal Harbour View attack.

Ludlow Bernard has put his trust in youth so far this term and it had paid huge dividends, especially against the experienced outfit at Mount Pleasant FA. The presence of the experience Lovel Palmer in the Harbour View midfield cannot be discounted however, as he played a big role in the win over one of the pre-season favourites.

On the evidence of what we have seen so far this season, the Vere defence will be properly tested and must be ready for whoever Bernard decides to start up front.

For their part, the Harbour View defence, led by captain Ajeanie Talbott cannot afford to get caught napping by an equally youthful Vere attack.

It could well be attack versus defence in this one, but do not be surprised by another Vere surprise, should it happen.

 

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