Montego Bay United (MBU) continued their impressive run in the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL), as they registered a 2-0 victory over Vere United in a composed, if unspectacular, contest at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday.
Goals from Brian Brown in the 42nd minute and Demario Phillips (90+1) secured MBU’s eighth win of the season and, by extension, stretched their unbeaten streak to four matches.
The result propelled Rodolfo Zapata’s team to third place in the standings on 28 points, just behind leaders Mount Pleasant (31 points) and Arnett Gardens (30 points).
Though admitting that it wasn’t their best display, Zapata was grateful for the three points as he reiterated their determination to maintain their upward trajectory in the race for the top spot.
“It was not our best performance so far; we had so many opportunities but couldn’t finish off the game, but in the end we did, and most importantly, we won three points to continue our hunt to move to the top of the league. We have several tactical systems that we work with, and the players responded positively in a tough game because, again, we are fighting for the top of the league, which is my goal,” Zapata said.
MBU dominated possession from the outset, as they dictated the pace and created early opportunities, the first of which came in the sixth minute. Brown’s powerful left-footed drive from the top of the 18-yard box forced Vere United’s goalkeeper Mikhail Harrison into a sharp save.
Two minutes later, Demarion Harris responded for Vere United with a shot from distance that was blocked by Montego Bay United’s custodian Aaron Enill, who got down well to his right.
MBU got off another warning shot in the 11th courtesy of Nevaun Turner’s curling free kick from over 25 yards out that narrowly missed the target.
The breakthrough eventually came when Brown timed his run perfectly to beat Vere United’s offside trap. The pacy player sporting the number 18 jersey got on the end of a long ball over the top, maneuvered into the penalty area, and slotted a precise left-footer past Harrison for his seventh goal of the season.
MBU maintained control after the break, with Shaniel Thomas and Brown causing problems for Vere United’s high defensive line. Thomas, who was lively throughout, came close in the 59th and 75th minutes, but his efforts failed to find the back of the net.
Brown had another chance in the 77th minute, when he outmuscled a defender and rounded Vere’s substitute goalkeeper Shakur Adair, but a last-ditch defensive recovery denied him a second goal.
Three minutes later, Owayne Gordon produced a decent run down the right channel and played a weighted pass inside to Brown, who had space and time dead centre of the box but muffed his effort.
Vere United’s best chance of the game came from an 82nd-minute set play, as Denzel McKenzie’s well-taken freekick from an angle had to be tipped over by Enill.
However, it was back to regular proceedings as the busy Thomas went on the counter and slipped by two defenders, but again failed to get his final effort on target.
The host inevitably found a second to seal the win when Thomas set up Phillips, who unleashed a fierce right-footed drive from inside the arc that gave Adair no chance at a save in time added.
Vere United Technical Director Craig Butler acknowledged the challenge of facing an in-form Montego Bay side but saw positives in his team’s effort. They remain in 11th position on 13 points.
“We have youth on our side, and we have players that are dedicated and committed. We still don’t have everyone in as yet, but it is going well. The guys did well; we were just unfortunate not to get something out of the game, but we are looking forward to the January window when we will have all the players in,” Butler shared.