Despite the recent departure of head coach Rodolfo Zapata, Montego Bay United showed little sign of disruption as they convincingly defeated Tivoli Gardens 3-1 in an energetic Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) clash at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday night.

Goals from Owayne Gordon (31st minute), Trinidadian Jordan Britto (74th), and substitute Jourdaine Fletcher (90+1) secured the win for the home side, while Nickalia Fuller (90+3) managed a late consolation for Tivoli Gardens.

The performance was another show of Montego Bay United's vein of form, as they fired off 18 shots compared to Tivoli’s five, which underlined the clear gulf in attacking quality between the two sides on the day.

With the win, Montego Bay United remained firmly in third place on 48 points, 10 points behind Mount Pleasant FA (58 points), who dismantled Humble Lion 5-0 earlier in the evening, and second-placed Arnett Gardens (51 points).

Assistant coach Dillon Thelwell, who stepped in on an interim basis after Zapata’s departure, ensured his team was focused, and their fluidity for the most part was a sign that their ambitions remain intact.

“I think we were excellent. It was a decent performance. We had a plan, and we executed it well, especially in the first half of the game. The second half, we kind of allowed Tivoli Gardens back into the game a bit, but then we pushed them on the counter. The players are professional, and they understand the situation, so they went out and got the job done,” Thelwell said.

Both teams showed attacking intent from the opening whistle, with Tivoli Gardens firing the first warning shot when Nickalia Fuller sent a beautiful cross into the box, but Barrington Pryce failed to connect cleanly with his header.

Montego Bay United responded swiftly courtesy of Demario Phillips, whose firm right-footer took a wicked deflection off a defender and lodged in the upright.

However, the host eventually found the breakthrough just past the half-hour mark. Owayne Gordon, ever the set-piece specialist, rifled a stunning free kick from the top of the arc that gave Tivoli’s goalkeeper Nicholas Clarke no chance at a save.

Montego Bay continued to pile on the pressure and almost doubled their lead before halftime when Johann Weatherly found himself on the break, only for Clarke to deny him with a crucial block.

Tivoli, eager to find a response before the break, pushed forward and had their best chance through Jonoi Williams, whose header from a corner flew harmlessly over the bar as the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Montego Bay United resumed with the same attacking intensity and again went close to doubling their tally in the 67th minute. Darnell Hospedales whipped in a free kick that found Britto, but the Trinidadian’s header flashed just wide.

Moments later, Deverow McKenzie delivered a pinpoint cross into the area, but Shaniel Thomas was unable to keep his header down.

Montego Bay United's persistence inevitably paid off when another well-weighted corner from Hospedales found Britto, who rose above the defence and expertly guided his header past Clarke to double the lead.

Tivoli Gardens, who struggled to create meaningful chances, had a rare opportunity in the 83rd minute when Fuller weaved his way through Montego Bay’s backline and unleashed a shot on goal, but custodian Aaron Enill was quick off his line to deny him.

As the game neared its end, substitute Jourdaine Fletcher sealed the victory in time added, as he was sent on his way in a brisk counterattack and slotted past Clarke in a one-on-one situation.

However, their West Kingston opponents managed a late consolation two minutes later when Fuller stepped up to take a free kick from over 20 yards out. The talented 20-year-old struck a sweet right-footer that curled past a hapless Enill, but too little, too late was the cry at the end.

Tivoli Gardens head coach Jerome Waite felt his team did well in patches from an attacking perspective but rued their tame defensive effort.

“We created numerous chances, and if we had executed, it would have been a different ball game. But we have some positives that we can take from this game, based on the youngsters that were injected in the second half and that really lifted the game and resulted in the goal. However, at this level it was as if it was a stroll in the park where our defensive effort is concerned and we gave up a third goal, which is not acceptable,” Waite noted.