RSPL Best And Worst (Week 29)

Note: The Premier League Clubs Association(PLCA) announced yesterday that all games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed in response to the measures taken to combat the coronavirus in Jamaica.

BEST

Tivoli Gardens

For the third time this season, Tivoli Gardens are on a three-match winning streak. This time their 5-1 win over doomed Vere United cemented them a permanent place this week in the top six. It has been a nothing short of a great revival for a team that has lingering towards the bottom two when the first round of games ended. While their previous two wins against league leaders Waterhouse and defending champions Portmore United were impressive, they managed to pass a crucial test by beating a team they were expected to handle comfortably. The scenario is now very simple. If they win their remaining four games, they are in the play-offs.

Cavalier SC

Cavalier's 1-0 win over Mount Pleasant last Sunday at Drax Hall didn't just their faint hopes of the top six alive, it was their third straight victory against the St Ann-based outfit in enemy territory. Cavalier technical director Rudolph Speid has the midas touch over their opponents and although the rebuilding the team with new young players hasn't panned out as he would have liked, they are showing great promise according to him. They have to keep winning to give themselves a chance and get some help with other play-off contenders dropping points.

Portmore United

The defending champions made UWI FC's relegation all but a formality. Their 3-1 win ensured that they stayed in the race for a top two position with a game in hand. They are still seven points away from a coveted first round bye but if they managed to win their game in hand against Humble Lion (whenever that is played), they will have a real chance in having a bit more comfort in their title defence.

WORST

Mount Pleasant

It is clear that Cavalier are becoming Mount Pleasant's kryptonite. Their straight home defeat to Rudolph Speid-coached Cavalier was a crucial setback in their chase for the regular season title. The good news is that league leaders Waterhouse dropped points as welll, drawing to Arnett Gardens on Monday night. They are behind Waterhouse by one point with four matches to play.

UWI FC

It won't matter that league play has been suspended due to Coronavirus issues. UWI FC are pretty much finished. Their 3-1 defeat to Portmore United on Sunday all but confirmed their relegation with 10th-place Molynes United needing one win to secure their place for next season. It has been a season that has gone completely wrong for head coach Andrew Peart. The suspension of play will only grant them time to ponder what must be done to ensure strength their chances for a return to top flight football.

Vere United

Vere United could play the role of spoiler as their fate was all but sealed after they were soundly beaten 5-1 by surging Tivoli Gardens who showed no mercy towards the doomed team. They will have four games left to play in the top flight and in that time they will have one eye towards a plan that can lead them towards a quick return to the Premier League.