Mt Pleasant blank Waterhouse to increase JPL lead
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Mt Pleasant FA increased their lead in the Jamaica Premier League after blanking Waterhouse FC 3-0 in their second round game played at Drewsland mini stadium on Sunday.
Mt Pleasant won their sixth straight game and improved to 34 points, three more than Montego Bay United (MBU) and Arnett Gardens who are tied on 31 points. MBU on Sunday avenged their first round loss to Harbour View with a 1-0 win at Compound while Arnett Gardens were held 1-1 by Chapelton Maroons.
The Theodore Whitmore-coached Mt Pleasant continued their rampage, scoring 21 goals over their last six games and conceding just two over the span.
Shaquille Bradford made it goals in back-to-back games when he gave Mt Pleasant the lead in the fourth minute and Kimoni Bailey scored his league leading ninth goal in the 16th minute. Raheem Edwards then killed off the competition when he scored his fifth goal in the 62nd minute.
In the meantime, Brian Brown celebrated his 32nd birthday with an 85th minute goal for MBU, heading in a corner at the far left post as they edged the struggling Harbour View who extended their winless run to seven games and fell into the relegation zone.
Brown, who represented Harbour View earlier in his career, had scored for MBU in their first round game in which they gave up the lead and were beaten 2-1.
Arnett Gardens led from the sixth minute through a Marlon Allen goal but were pegged back by Chapelton Maroons who earned a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal in the 81st minute from Leaunghn Williams. It was the second time the teams had played out a 1-1 draw this season.
Defending champions Cavalier FC are into fourth place after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Portmore United at the Ferdie Neita Complex. Geo Headley gave sixth-placed Portmore the lead in the 22nd minute before Christopher Ainsworth leveled for Cavalier in the 56th minute.
Tivoli Gardens meanwhile moved closer to a play-off spot, cutting the deficit to four points after beating Humble Lion 5-1 at Stadium East. Anthony Nelson scored a double in the 39th and 71st minutes to lead Tivoli Gardens, while Kavan Wilson, Trevaun McKain and Rodico Wellington were also on the scoresheet for the victors. Humble Lion got a consolation goal from Afiba Chambers.
Dunbeholden FC came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Racing United who were seeking a second win over their St Catherine neighbours this season. Ranaldo Biggs gave Racing United an early lead in the fifth minute and substitute Damorney Hutchinson doubled the advantage in the 65th minute but Dunbeholden rallied with Dwight Merrick halving the deficit in the 78th minute before another substitute, Nakeel Wright, scored in the 84th minute to earn a point for his team.
Devonte Davis scored a hattrick as Molynes United ended a three-game losing skid with a big 5-0 thrashing of Vere United. Davis scored their first three goals of the game, netting in the 32nd, 48th and 62nd minutes, while Jason Wright added another in the 74th minute and an own goal in the 83rd minute rounded out the scoreline.