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Strong start sets up big win for Mount Pleasant
February 18, 2025
The start, sometimes, can be key to the end result. Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore asked his Mount Pleasant Football Academy aggregation for that and, led by hat-trick scorer Daniel Green, got just rewards with an impressive 5-0 victory over Humble Lion FC in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday.
"We wanted to start well. The last two games we played, we didn't start the way we wanted, and we conceded four goals in the last two games," Whitmore said after his team won the opening game of a doubleheader.
"I think it was a better start this afternoon and it gave us the momentum going into the game. The second half, I think we came out and dominated."
Green netted two of his goals inside the first 25 minutes and strikes from substitutes Alex Marshall and Jabari Howell, complemented by Green's late finish, completed the rout for the league leaders. They wrapped up their 18th win in 24 matches, and moved to 58 points, seven clear of second-place Arnett Gardens. The St Ann team drew four and lost twice in their other six encounters.
Humble Lion, in the meantime, remain at the bottom of the standings on 15 points, accumulated with two wins and nine draws. They have lost 13 times this season.
Overwhelming favourites Mount Pleasant took full advantage early and went ahead courtesy of Green in the fifth minute. He doubled the score in the 23rd minute, converting from the penalty spot.
Marshall unleashed a screamer into the top corner from outside the box to score in the 57th minute, and Howell produced a moment of brilliance in the 80th minute when he scored from outside the 18-yard box.
Green scored from close range off an assist from Marshall to complete his hat-trick in the 84th minute, to register his 10th goal of the season.
Humble Lion showed few signs of promise to score in the first half, but they didn't take advantage of those chances.
Mount Pleasant, the more organised team, also had a few chances to increase the lead, especially in the second half, but they missed golden opportunities.
Despite the commanding victory margin, Whitmore said they are still striving for improvements.
"Every game we try to come out, work hard and do the things that get us success. We are not a place where we want to be as yet so each game we just want to progress," he reasoned.
Green said the game plan was to attack with force.
"We've been working on finishing during training sessions and a lot of shootings. We're doing a lot of work, so everyone is very hungry up top, wanting to score goals," the striker admitted.
Humble Lion's head coach, Alex Thomas, expressed disappointment.
"It is disappointing to go down five-nil against the league leaders," he said.
"However, my team will show respect to Mount Pleasant team. "(It's a) well coached team that played well. Nevertheless, we have to show up on the day," Thomas said.
In the feature matchup, home team Montego Bay United turned back Tivoli Gardens 3-1 to remain in third spot, climbing to 48 points in the process. Captain Owayne Gordon Gordon opened the scoring at the 32nd minute, while Jordan Britto added a second goal at the 73rd minute and Jordan Fletcher scored at the 89th minute to make it 3-0. Tivoli Gardens, whose goal was scored by Nickalia Fuller in added time (90+2), stayed in eighth spot, on 28 points.
It was the first game for Montego Bay United since the shock announcement on Saturday that the St James club and Argentine coach Rodolfo Zapata had parted ways.
