Fletcher’s brace returns Montego Bay to second in JPL
Montego Bay United returned to second place in the Jamaica Premier League after Jourdain Fletcher scored a first half brace to lead them to a 4-0 win over Dunbeholden FC in their third round game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday.
Montego Bay’s 19th win of the season saw them improve to 69 points, three more than Arnett Gardens who have two games in hand and play bitter rivals Tivoli Gardens on Monday.
There were also wins for other play-off contenders with leaders Mt Pleasant blanking Harbour View 3-0, Portmore edging Humble Lion 1-0, defending champions Cavalier beating Vere United 3-1 and Waterhouse clipping Molynes United 1-0.
At the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Fletcher, who missed the previous game, bagged a first half double, taking his tally on the season to nine, five coming in his last four games.
After a handful of misses from his teammates, Fetcher sent Montego Bay ahead in the 29th minute after he was quickest to a rebound and scored from close range.
He doubled his tally in the 42nd when he latched on to a mistake my Dunbeholden’s defender Richard Brown and gave goalkeeper Malique Williams no chance from about eight yards.
Che Benny, who had seen Williams save his penalty kick in the 40th minute after Brown had fouled Fletcher, atoned with his first goal in the JPL — a strike from about 23 yards that flew into the low right hand corner.
Nazime Mattalie-Grant scored his first Premier League in about three years when he finished off a great team move with a sweetly struck shot from at least 25 yards out in the 89th minute.
Nicholas Nelson also scored a second half double for Mt Pleasant FA as they rolled yet another win after Gadail Irving gave them the lead in the 33rd minute at Drax Hall. Nelson scored in the 59th and 61st minute to put the game out of reach of Harbour View.
Ronaldo Robinson scored in time added at the end of the first half as they edged Humble Lion 1-0 at Effortville Community Centre, snapping the hosts four-game unbeaten run.
Cavalier ended their three-game winless run with a 3-1 win over Vere United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex with Shaquille Stein in the 42nd minute and Jalmaro Calvin in the 44th minute giving them a 2-0 half time lead.
Robinho Gordon pulled a goal back for Vere United in the 65th minute but Dwayne Atkinson restored Cavalier’ lead two minutes later.
Andre Fletcher’s 62nd minute goal was enough for Waterhouse to beat Molynes United.
— Paul A Reid