Matchday Nine Review

Another round of tense fixtures and low-scorelines summed up week nine of the Caribbean Mega League as few games lived up to any sort of pre-match hype this weekend. Neither of the top two sides could get any more than a point in their away games this time out, so the big chances would be for those below to try and catch up with Republican Rabbits and Jamrock Juniors.

Haiti’s Vodou People moved into the top three for the first time since matchday one after overcoming the league’s biggest flops so far, in the form of Will Clark’s Limbo Leopards. Augustin Walson has had a stinker of a season so far for Party People and even though it was his penalty that gave the hosts the win, the fans will have left Papa Doc Parc feeling more grateful for the efforts of Charlemagne Chaderson and Emerson Georges in the spine of the team as a lacklustre Leopards eleven were reduced to only a couple of half-chances on Guerry Romondt’s goal. Clark replaced three of his four midfielders through the course of the game but his 4-4-2 formation looked very flat.

And unsurprisingly the performance of the day came from the aforementioned form side and Bajan Boppers played out of their skins at the Barracks in a very professional performance against Moko-Jumbies FC. The Kitt Men arrived in Barbados with the chance to move just two points away from the top of the table and although they had more than their fair share of chances in the game they would ultimately be undone by two stoppage time strikes at the end of either half. Jabarry Chandler finally ended his eight game goal drought as the centre-forward took a Hadan Holligan pass in his stride to justify James Bennett’s faith in him. With Moko-Jumbies pushing for a goal of their own they fell asleep against a counter attack which saw goalie Kishmar Primus launch the ball forward to Rashad Jules, who ran forward from the halfway line before curling the ball into the right-hand side of Jamal Francis in the Kitt Men’s goal, sealing a third win and clean sheet in succession.

Over in Grenada Sophie Dibbens had to watch her Spicy Doves fall to a home defeat against steadily progressive Redonda Rockys in a 2-1 loss in front of a full-house at Cécile Stadium. Bermuda Tempest battled to a slender 1-0 victory against Dominica Dominoes as Keishen Bean’s penalty on the hour-mark resulted in a sixth defeat in a row. ArenArubA hosted a 1-1 draw between Ajax Oranjestad and leaders Republican Rabbits as two goals in four minutes saw the action condensed into a spell in the second-half, whilst Jamrock Juniors could also only muster a point as they were held to a dull, goalless affair against Suriname Sharks. A chance missed for Jamtastic to jump back to the top of the pile, although they only managed two shots on target and that’s hardly title-winning form.

Matchday ten means that we are almost halfway through the Caribbean Mega League already and with all still to play for it will be interesting to see who reaches midway at the top and indeed the bottom. Republican Rabbits fans will fancy their chances at home to Spicy Doves, whilst Jamrock Juniors host Ajax Oranjestad and Vodou People have an arguably tougher task as they go over to Antigua & Barbuda to take on Redonda Rockys. Bottom side Dominica Dominoes will look to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat as they welcome Suriname Sharks to the LIME Stadium, whilst the big overachievers Bajan Boppers visit the biggest disappointment of the campaign so far in Limbo Leopards. The matchday is completed by fourth top Moko-Jumbies FC versus fourth bottom Bermuda Tempest. As we say, all still to play for!