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Mount Pleasant drop six-love, take JPL lead
November 29, 2024
Davion Ferguson, assistant coach of Mount Pleasant, was full of praises for his players following their six-love victory over Vere Phoenix United in the opening game of a Jamaica Premier League doubleheader at Drewsland Mini-Stadium last evening.
The win catapulted the St Ann-based Mount Pleasant Academy FC to top of the standings on 22 points, the same as Waterhouse.
However, Mount Pleasant have a superior goal difference.
"It was an excellent performance as in the first half we were unplayable in some instances. Overall we executed well and did what we wanted to do," Ferguson said.
"What we're doing a lot more is working together as players are looking for each other on the field and from once you have that then we'll continue to score goals. I think we stuck to our game mode and we controlled proceedings for the entire 90 minutes."
Mount Pleasant started their goal-scoring fest as early as the 24th minute, when Jashaun Anglin's right-footed strike skidded off the wet surface to get beyond Vere Phoenix United's custodian Shakur Adair. Two minutes later that lead was doubled as Daniel Green, on the back of a counter-attack, found acres of space in the box to easily convert from point blank range. By the 26th minute it was 3-0 as Raheem Edwards also found enough time in the box to control and power home his effort. In stoppage time, Mount Pleasant made their lead 4-0 as Kimoni Bailey took advantage of lacklustre defending and calmly deposited his chance in goal.
Second half goals from Shaqueil Bradford in the 77th minute and Tevin Shaw in the 82nd ensured that Vere Phoenix United's winless streak was extended to five games, as Mount Pleasant continued their goal-scoring prowess.
Lenworth Hyde, head coach of Vere Phoenix United, stated that the overall performance of the team was below an acceptable standard.
"We didn't start the game well and defensively we were poor. We gave Mount Pleasant a lot of look-ins on our goal and also we didn't attack properly. We were lacklustre and we just looked lethargic and the underfoot conditions didn't help us at all," he believes.
Vere Phoenix United stayed third from bottom on nine points, from 11 games. The two teams at the bottom of the standings, Humble Lions and Chapelton Maroons, also have nine points.
Meanwhile, highly-placed Waterhouse FC and Montego Bay United FC battled to a 1-1 draw in the feature football match.
Andre Fletcher gave the home team the lead when he converted a penalty in the 10th minute.
Montego Bay United equalised nine minutes from full time when Brian Brown scored.
The point lifted Montego Bay United to 21 points, the same as Arnett Gardens, who started the day as leaders. Both teams have a similar goal difference, but the St James-based Montego Bay United, who are now third, have scored more goals than Arnett Gardens FC.
Portmore United, on 20 points, complete a closely-knitted top-five. Defending champions Cavalier lie sixth on 16 points, with two games in hand.
The league continues with six games over this weekend's rounds, four of which will be played on Sunday.
