Chapelton Maroons deserve spot in JPL – coach

Chapelton Maroons' head coach Dwight White said his team deserves to remain in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) given their performance throughout the season.

The Clarendon club went down 2-0 to league leaders Mount Pleasant Football Academy at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday, and sit just one point outside the relegation zone with 33.

White took heart from the defeat, believing they can make the adjustments required to ensure their safety in the top flight.

"We have to do things that are in our control," he stated. "We have to hit the training ground, look at the clips and adjust because we deserve to be in this league. We've showed it against other teams."

Trinidadian Angelo Exilus fired Mount Pleasant into the lead after 61 minutes, and Raheem Edwards secured the points with a second goal in the 74th minute. But White said the result could have been different had they capitalise on one of their chances and played with some intensity.

"It was a very good try. But we lapsed in concentration and had some technical errors which can be adjusted going forward into the next games," he said.

"We tried but it wasn't good enough. But with that little extra push it could have been a different result," he added.

Mount Pleasant controlled the match and went in front when Exilus turned home Edwards' shot at the back post.

The St Ann team continued to created chances, with Edwards missing two great opportunities, while Devonte Campbell came close with a pair of strikes late on.

Mount Pleasant climbed to 71 points and stretched their lead at the top of the table to 11 points over Montego Bay United. Mount Pleasant's head coach Theodore Whitmore left the venue a satisfied man.

"I think we controlled the game for most parts. We showed a lot of patience. In the first half we didn't create much chances but in the second half we had a lot of chances. But the execution wasn't on par. But (I'm) very pleased with the overall performance," he said.

"There is a lot of work to be done. But we are nearing where we want to be."

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com