Mount Pleasant FA’s head coach, Theodore Whitmore, has called for his team to remain grounded and focused on their long-term objectives, even as they extended their remarkable run in the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Racing United at the Anthony Spaulding Complex on Monday.

Shaqueil Bradford (8th and 67th) and Raheem Edwards (40th) found the net for Mount Pleasant, who outlasted their opponents despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after Gadail Irving was sent off. Tajay Grant (72nd) and schoolboy Stevaughn Spence (90th) scored for Racing United.

Whitmore lauded the character of his players, particularly in their second half display, as the St Ann-based team, on an eight-match winning run, increased their tally to 40 points.

“A man down, the guys showed character. But what matters is the win. We do not want to get carried away. We just want to stay focused on the objective, and the main objective is to get the job done,” Whitmore said in a post-game interview.

“We have experienced players who are technically aware and are able to hold their heads and see out a game. So it is no surprise that we showed character and secured the win because that is what we expect of players—that they will go out and perform,” he added.

Mount Pleasant wasted little time to make their intentions clear and quickly broke the deadlock when Bradford connected with Irving’s cross at the back post.

Edwards doubled the advantage just before halftime, with a calm low finish after Bradford’s excellent setup.

The game took a dramatic turn at the start of the second half when Irving was sent off for a reckless challenge on Grant.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bradford orchestrated a third goal in the 67th minute. Substitute Devonte Campbell’s effort was parried into Bradford’s path, and though Nicholas Nelson appeared to get the final touch, the goal was credited to Bradford.

Racing United responded five minutes later when Grant curled a brilliant shot over Mount Pleasant’s goalkeeper, Shaquan Davis. Spence then added a second when he finished a firm header to set up a tense finish in time added.

The St Catherine-based Racing United went agonizingly close to an equalizer in the dying moments, but Davis produced a stunning save to deny Jermain Bowers’ well-struck shot from a distance.

Their head coach Anthony Patrick rued what could have been as his team remain in 11th on the 14-team standing with 15 points.

"We wanted to squeeze them a lot and force them to play a lot of long balls. But we made some silly mistakes at the back to give up the early goal. I think we should have also had a penalty, which was very obvious right in front of the referee and the assistant, but that is how it goes; we just have to continue working and move on,” he said.