Back to basics for Portmore United

Portmore United FC are headed back to the drawing board to iron out kinks in their overall play, after surrendering home advantage in a 2-0 loss against St Ann outfit Mount Pleasant United in their Jamaica Premier League football match at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday.

Rodolph Austin, Portmore's former central midfielder and captain in their heyday, is now the team's coach and expressed several deficiencies that need immediate attention.

"We didn't have a good first half. But we came out second half and gave a good account of ourselves," he said.

"But we have to really work on how we start games. We gave up a soft goal on a set play and we have to do better in those things"

Austin added: "We lapsed in the final third and we have to work on those things. But this was our first game and we just have to do better from here on."

Goals from former Portmore man Suelae McCalla, at the 28th minute and Shaquille Bradford in time added to the first half, put the visitors 2-0 up at the break.

Mount Pleasant United wasted several opportunities to extend their lead and their coach, former Reggae Boyz captain, and coach, Theodore Whitmore, had very few complaints.

"I am very pleased with the star, very pleased with the first half of the game. (In) the second half we took our foot off the pedal. But the execution in the first half was up to par, what we expected," he said.

Mount Pleasant started out controlling possession and Daniel Green came close with a strike after 15 minutes.

The 2023-24 champions eventually made the breakthrough when McCalla beat Tyrone Williams with a thumping header from a corner kick, just before the half-hour mark.

McCalla, Jahshaun Anglin, Green, and Alex Marshall, who was substituted midway the first half through injury, continued to dominate their opponents in midfield and just before the interval Devonte Campbell released Shandee James down the right flank.

James played a pass on top of the area to Anglin, who deceived his marker before unleashing a low drive. Williams could only parry the ball into the path of Bradford, who stabbed home from seven yards to make it 2-0.

Portmore gave a better account of themselves in the second half, with Jamari Morrison hitting the post and forcing a spectacular save from Shaquan Davis late on.

However, Mount Pleasant were always in control and had a number of good breaks where they could have added to their score.

"My disappointment this afternoon was with the final third of the pitch," Whitmore pointed. "We didn't execute well enough in the final area, so that is an area we have to improve. We want to score goals, we want to win games and that is what we are here about."

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com