THE STARS HAVE FALLEN - Harbour View relegated after more than 30 years

Cavalier secured their passage to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) play-offs on the last day of the preliminary round, beating Harbour View 2-1 at Stadium East to relegate the east Kingston club to lower-tier football for the first time in over 30 years.

"This is one of the things that tells you that the youngsters are ready," said Cavalier assistant David Laylor. 

"Coming from behind and getting this result shows me that the youngsters have the grit to stick it out and fight to the end," he said.

Cavalier finished the preliminary stage in fifth on 61 points. Racing United captured the sixth and final play-off spot after a 4-0 win over relegated Spanish Town Police, finishing one point behind Cavalier.

Despite a 7-2 win over Chapelton Maroons, Arnett failed in their last-ditch effort to make the play-offs, as they needed Cavalier to lose or Racing to draw, and both those teams won.

Cavalier started positively and threatened early with a header from Adrian Reid and a shot just wide from Romarion Thomas.

Harbour View slowly came into their own and created a rare opportunity, when Reid was played in behind, and the league's topscorer, produced a typical piece of individual brilliance to put Harbour View in front, calmly disposing of two defenders before unleashing past Jamari Gordon in goal.

Cavalier increased the pressure towards the break, but Harbour View stood firm to go into the half with the lead.

At the half, Arnett led Chapelton 5-0, meaning Cavalier were out of the play-offs at that point, while the result temporarily lifted Harbour View out of the relegation zone, as Molynes were still 0-0 with Treasure Beach at the interval.

Oquassa Chong missed a great chance to put Harbour View further ahead after half-time, as did Kimarley Scott for Cavalier.

However, the defending champions got the equaliser when Reid headed home from a corner. Then two minutes later Ainsworth scored with a stooping header, after Scott did well to keep the ball in play.

Reid nearly had his second in similar fashion in the 89th minute but his header just missed the bar.

Harbour View coach Lenworth Hyde, said the team fell apart physically in the second half.

"Excellent first half, but after about 10 minutes into the second, we fell flat. We looked lethargic and the fitness of the Cavalier team put us on the back foot for most of the second half and we couldn't contain them," he said.

Even if Harbour View had won, they would have still been relegated, after Molynes beat Treasure Beach 2-0 to finish on 42 points, three more than Harbour View, who join Spanish Town Police (26 points) as the demoted teams this season.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results

Chapelton 2-7 Arnett

Cavalier 2-1 Harbour View

Portmore 3-0 Tivioli

Treasure Beach 0-2 Molynes 

Spanish Town 0-4 Racing 

Waterhouse 4-0 Dunbeholden

Mt Pleasant 2-1 MBU