Mount Pleasant FA and Molynes United battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their Jamaica Premier League encounter at the UWI/JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston on Sunday.
Former National Under-20 striker Nicholas Nelson (4th) and Sergino Frankson (87th) scored for Molynes United while Kesslon Hall (47th) and Liston James (50th) replied for Mount Pleasant.
The share of the points resulted in Mount Pleasant having five points in sixth spot from four games while Molynes United are in 10th with two points from three games.
Both teams started the game under new coaches with Englishman Walter Downes taking over from Paul Davis at Mount Pleasant while Anthony Patrick replaced Calvert Fitzgerald at Molynes United.
It was a dream start for Patrick as Nicholas Nelson pounced on a headed pass by his brother Jermy Nelson and toe-poked home ahead of the flat-footed defender Osani Ricketts. Mount Pleasant responded with two goals in three minutes in the second half by Kesslon Hall and Liston James.
Hall tapped home after McCalla’s header squeezed under Molynes’ goalkeeper Roje Williams even although it seemed destined to get over the line.
Shortly after, James carried the ball unchallenged out of defence and played the ball out wide. He then continued his run into the opponent’s box to be on the end of Francois Swaby’s cross and nodded home.
However, just when it seemed Downes would kick off his coaching stint in Jamaica with a win when Frankson found space at the back post and fired home from a corner to pull Molynes United level.
“We started the game on the right foot, how we wanted to play because we analyzed our opponent and we made some changes to our team and got the first goal,” Molynes United assistant coach Andre Daley explained afterwards.
He said poor concentration hampered their flow in the second half.
Meanwhile, Downes thought his team started too slowly probably because of the logistical issues they experienced while on their way to the match.
“We didn’t start the way I would have liked but our approach to the second half was much better. We had a disruptive journey here today but it was no excuse still,” Downes said.
Nicholas Nelson of Molynes United was named Man of the Match.