Waterhouse and Tivoli earn wins in race for JPL playoffs spot

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former champions Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens continued their race for a place in the Jamaica Premier League playoffs on Sunday, scoring wins over Portmore United and Harbour View respectively in their third round games.

Waterhouse beat qualifiers Portmore 2-0 at Ferdie Neita Park, their third straight win to move to 55 points, one more than Tivoli Gardens who were 2-1 winners over Harbour View at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

At the other end of the table, Molynes United created some space for themselves after Marlon Pennicooke came off the bench to score a second half brace in their 3-1 win over Racing United at Drewsland. The win was the second in a row for Molynes who moved up to ninth place on 35 points, but still only two points clear of the relegation zone.

At Drax Hall, the race for the second automatic semi-finalist is still wide open after leaders Mt Pleasant FA beat second place Montego Bay United 2-0, the first loss for coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis since taking over the team in the second round.

Sixth place Waterhouse FC scored both goals in the first half, Andre Fletcher scoring the opening goal in the 16th minute and Nicholas Hamilton doubling the advantage in the 23rd minute.

Tivoli Gardens extended their unbeaten run to 10 straight games while Harbour View, in 11th place, are in a virtual tie for the second relegation spot on 33 points.

Barrington Pryce scored his fifth goal of the season to give Tivoli the lead in the 28th minute. Harbour View drew level in the 39th minute through Colorado Murray. However, Nickalia Fuller scored the winner for Tivoli to continue their play-off quest.

The Mt Pleasant machine kept rolling as they dismissed Montego Bay 2-0 with second half goals. Nicholas Nelson, who became the fifth Mt Pleasant player to hit double digit scoring, opened the scoring in the 54th minute. Raheem Edwards scored his 13th goal of the season in the 66th minute to secure the win as improved to 87 points.

Molynes got back-to-back wins as Racing United’s implosion continued with a fourth successive loss. Nickache Murray opened the scoring early when he netted in the second minute. Pennicooke, who came on at the start of the second half, made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute, then added a second and his team’s third in the 62nd minute before second half substitute Giovanni Cunningham scored a consolation for Racing in the 76th minute.

Meanwhile Dunbeholden FC and Humble Lion played out a 1-1 draw at Effortville.