Cavalier Fabian Swaby - Man of the Match

It would appear that some mid-table teams in the Claro – KSAFA Super League not only made new year’s resolutions, but have gone a step further to make them a reality. While on paper some of the results from Saturday’s games were anticipated, the teams had to go out and work hard for a favourable result.

When the dust settled, Cavalier joined Rae Town on 31 points while remaining second (on goal difference). And while many had thought the league was down to a three (3) team race, Mountain View, Constant Spring and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) put themselves back into contention for an outside chance of claiming this season’s championship.

Super League

Mountain View United vs. Meadhaven United – Excelsior High School

It appears Mountain View and coach Omar Stanley have found a new lease on life following their third consecutive victory, which pushed them up to third on 25 points and only six (6) points behind the leaders. Mountain View led by two (2) goals a piece from Ricardo Reid (1st & 62nd) and Troyland Williams (34th & 59th), thrashed Meadhaven 5 – 1 in their encounter. Neville Brown (47th) completed the scoring for the home team, while Omari Edwards (54th) grabbed the visitor’s consolation goal as they remained in 11th position on six (6) points.

Rae Town F.C. vs. Constant Spring F.C. – Breezy Castle

The leader having been given a reprieve in the boardroom following their 3 – 0 loss to Santos in their last home game was reversed, were apparently still caught up in the season of giving and it seem their new year’s resolution entails being more generous and accommodating host at “Breezy Castle”.

While the home team are known to run “rough shod” over teams who visit their den, not even their Constant Spring opponents could have anticipated the generous mood the Rae Town team would have been in, which left them on the wrong end of a humiliating 4 – 0 whipping. Gregory Walker (21st & 68th), Claudious Walker (53rd) and Andrew Davis (83rd) were the scorers for Constant Spring, who have now moved seven (7) points behind the leaders while remaining fifth.

Barbican F.C. vs. Jamaica Defence Force S.C. – Barbican Playfield

Sixth place Jamaica Defence Force edged eighth place Barbican 2 – 1 and also moved up to join Constant Spring on 24 points. Garvey Simms’ brace (7th & 68th) gave the soldiers victory, while Dasean Meeks (37th) pulled one back for the home team who remained on 16 points

Cavalier S.C. vs. Santos F.C. – Constant Spring Playfield

As previously thought, the clash of the round was at the Constant Spring playfield, where host Cavalier redeemed themselves from their only loss of the season after returning the 2 – 0 defeat that a “10 man” Santos team had dished out earlier in the season.

In fact it was the Santos team that came out firing on all cylinders as they camped out in their opponent’s half for the first 5 minutes and fired off three (3) shots at goal in the process. In the 10th minute it again seemed it was going to be Santos’ day when the diminutive Cavalier striker Loxley Thompson was shown the red card for a vicious tackle on an opponent near the half line.
However, the visitor’s celebration was short lived as four (4) minutes later the Santos defence was found wanting and Fabian Swaby finished off an Oneal Morrison cross following a swift 2 on 1 counter attacking move which gave Cavalier the lead from close range.

For the rest of the half the teams tussled in midfield, with only a shot from the edge of the visitor’s 18 yard box by Cavalier new signee Demetrio Billett troubling the Santos custodian. At the other end Fabian Nethersole shot across the goal from an acute angle went inches past the back post, while Nicholas McCreath playing his first game for Santos, failed to capitalize on a goalkeeping error in the 25th minute and also kicked straight at the Cavalier’s keeper following a corner kick in the 37th minute.

In the second half Cavalier took control of the game and Billett missed from five yards in the 50th minute following a good combination play with Phillip Riley, then Morrison missed another chance from 14 yards following a good right side build up which found him unmarked in the visitor’s penalty area.

In the 70th minute Morrison created space for himself on the right side of the visitor’s half but his pass to substitute Donovan Alvaranga was fluffed as the resulting shot 8 yards from goal, looked more like a perfect kick at an NFL goal. Alvaranga however redeemed himself in the 76th minute when he slot home Paul Grant’s through pass.

Santos came close to pulling back a goal but McCreath shot just wide from 18 yards, then Fabian Nethersole watched his header clip the crossbar before going behind for a spot kick in the 83rd minute. The final opportunity fell to Alvaranga in stoppage time when his shot across the face of goal from six yards was tipped around the upright for a corner kick.

Bull Bay F.C. vs. Real Mona F.C. – "Bull Pen"

Seventh place Real Mona moved up to 20 points after a Jordan Moses 59th minute goal gave them a 1 – 0 victory over host Bull Bay, who remained on 11 points and still perilously close to the drop zone.

Duhaney Park F.C. vs. Maverley/ Hughenden F.C. – Baldwin Crescent

The Duhaney Park versus Maverley fixture was not played as the 12th place Maverley team turned up more than half an hour late and with only nine (9) players for the game. A decision on this game should be made in the days ahead.

Major League

Meanwhile in the six (6) games played in the Claro Major League on Saturday, Liguanea United edged Swallowfield United 1 – 0 at Buttercup Park, Police Nationals whipped Whitfield Town 4 – 0 at St.A.T.H.S., University of the West Indies (UWI) despite a brace from Andre Bernal went down 2 – 3 to Brown’s Town at the UWI bowl, leaders Central Kingston stopped Greenwich Town 3 – 0 at Tinson Pen, Rockfort edged host Molynes United 2 – 1 and Cooreville Gardens led by two (2) goals from Andrew Christie outscored Olympic Gardens 5 – 2 at the Cling Cling Oval.

Syd Bartlett

The Claro Syd Bartlett League resumed on Sunday following a break with three (3) of four (4) scheduled games.

At the end of the day’s fixtures Shortwood United led by a hat-trick from Jermaine Malcolm joined leaders Stony Hill on 19 points after defeating their host Red Hills 4 - 0. Stony Hill drew 0 - 0 with Seaview Gardens, while the Island Special Constabulary (ISCF) and Allman / Woodford drew 1 - 1. The other game between New Kingston and Meadforest was not played due to the lack of security.

The Super League feature game between Rae Town and Constant Spring can be seen on TVJ Sports Network on Wednesday starting at 9:00 pm.