Humble Lion climbed off the bottom of the table with a convincing 2-0 win over Harbour View Sunday and reignited their slim chances of making the Jamaica Premier League playoffs.
Goals from Man of the Match Andrew Vanzie from the penalty spot in 61st minute and substitute Levaughn Williams in the 87th minute propelled the Clarendon-based to just their second win of the season.
Vanzie expertly dispatched the penalty after goalkeeper Akeem Smith was adjudged by referee Kevin Morrison to have fouled Andre Clennon. It was Vanzie’s third goal of the season and his second from the penalty spot.
Then Williams, who replaced Javane Thompson in the 65th minute, sealed the victory when he tapped home from close range with the Harbour View defence all over the place.
It was a most crucial win for Humble Lion as their six points see them climb from 11th to 10th but, more importantly, they are just three points from of a top-six playoff spot.
Holding that last playoff spot is the tumbling Harbour View that lost their third match of the season and is sitting in sixth spot on nine points. With log jam in the middle of the table, the battle for the playoff positions is heating up as even bottom-placed Arnett Gardens on four points are still in contention.
The Clarendon-based Humble Lion, the usual standard-bearers of the parish, has been upstaged by the less established Vere United that sits atop of the Jamaica Premier League with 14 points and has basically already secured a spot into the playoffs.
Vere United, formerly Jamalco FC, has emerged as the top team in Clarendon which was confirmed by their 3-1 win over Humble Lion in the second round.
Andrew Price has stuck with the task and there is now hope for Humble Lion.
It was a very good win over the Stars of the East led by captain Andrew Vanzie, Andre Clennon, Afiba Chambers, Lorenzo Lewin, Leonardo Jibbison and Levaughn Wiliams.
But this could have been different had it not been for some outstanding goalkeeping from Humble Lion’s captain Dennis Taylor who made some important saves throughout the game, especially in the first half when he denied Lennox Russell and top marksman Oquassa Chong on the stroke of half time.
Waterhouse FC blanked Mount Pleasant FA 2-0 in Saturday’s clash between two Jamaica Premier League heavyweights at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens played to a draw in the final fixture of matchday 5 of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Playing at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in St. Andrew, both teams could only manage one goal each to split the points.
Both goals came in the second half. Waterhouse struck first with a strike from Andre Fletcher in the 63rd minute. Fletcher received the ball at the top of the 18 yard box and turned past the defender to go on and finish off the move in comfortable fashion after tucking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
However, it took just only a minute for Tivoli to find the equaliser. Devroy Grey scored a header after a cross from substitute Anthony Nelson in the 64th minute.
Waterhouse dominated the majority of the possession during the game and finished with 15 shots, 4 of which were on target, while Tivoli attempted 7 shots, with only 2 being on target.
Tivoli defender Odeon Pennycooke was named man of the match.
Even so, he believes he could have done more to prevent the goal.
“He caught me flat-footed. I believe if I was on my toes I would have been able to stop the goal,” Pennycooke said when asked about Grey getting by him so easy to score.
The draw means that Waterhouse remains in 6th place with 7 points, while Tivoli are 8th with 6. Round 6 starts on Saturday with Waterhouse taking the field again to face Humble Lion F.C. and leaders Portmore United battling Harbour View.
A Kesslon Hall header gave Mount Pleasant FA a hard-fought 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens in the second game of the Jamaica Premier League doubleheader at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on Sunday.
Portmore United FC continued their impressive run in the Jamaica Premier League on Sunday, defeating Humble Lion 3-0 at the UWI/JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Portmore United F.C. emerged as 3-1 winners against Tivoli Gardens in the final fixture of match-week four of the Jamaica Premier League at the UWI/JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence at the UWI, Mona campus today.
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.
Vere United drubbed Humble Lion 3-1 in a drama-filled Clarendon derby in the Jamaica Premier League at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on Sunday.
In addition to the four goals, there were six yellow cards, one to Vere’s head coach Donovan Duckie, and two red cards. It all climaxed when Anjay Gayle, who came on as a substitute in the 90th minute for Kevin Johnson, scored in the 92nd minute.
Johnson, who had come on for Tyrese Harrison in the 67th minute, was substituted because coach Donovan Duckie was determined to get Gayle into the game.
Before all that, Man-of-the-Match Ricardo Messam scored two goals of high quality - in the 27th and 57th minutes - that proved to be cornerstones of the Vere United victory.
Vere United took the lead after Humble Lion’s defender Kemar Drake failed to clear his area, allowing Messam to slot home. Andrew Vanzie would pull Humble Lion level in the 37th minute from the penalty spot for a handball in the box.
Four minutes later, things began to go downhill for Humble Lion when defender Linval Lewis was ejected after picking up his second yellow card. A man short, Humble Lion conceded a second goal when Messam tapped home after the ball rebounded into his path.
Following what was their second win of the season, Vere climbed into a tie with Harbour View at the top of the table on eight points. However, Harbour View are ahead on goal difference.
Humble Lion, meanwhile, are without a point at the foot of the table after their fourth consecutive loss, which left Head Coach Andrew Price livid.
“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot every week and getting that red card so very early in the first half, we were always behind the eight ball and had to battle against a team with a numerical advantage,” Price said.
“We have to find ways of managing and playing the game properly. We have to play with some common sense and we not doing that right now, which is unfortunate, and giving up goals that the opponents don't have to work hard for.”
Meanwhile, Duckie was more than satisfied with the three points.
“Well, full credit to my team. It’s a derby game and we know exactly what would have happened. I thought the referee had his hands full but did the best he could,” he said.
“We scored some goals today which is unlike us because we started to play from a defensive position but I thought the guys stuck to the task and it was hard work that gave us the victory.”
Harbour View blanked Dunbeholden 2-0 in the feature game of the Jamaica Premier League at the UWI-JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
Two goals in four minutes spurred Cavalier to a 3-0 win over Arnett Gardens as actions continued in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the JFF-UWI/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
After playing second fiddle for most of the game, Cavalier struck decisively in the 52nd minute when Shaniel Thomas slotted home from a Ronaldo Webster cross. Four minutes later, Melvin Doxilly’s scissor kick made it 2-0. Thomas would his second goal in the 79th minute slotting home from close range after Dwayne Atkinson’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.
It was a brilliant build-up involving Atkinson, who combined well with Kamoy Simpson to split the Arnett backline.
The win meant that Cavalier moved to the top of the JPL standings with seven points from four games while Arnett Gardens remained in eighth spot on three points from three games.
It was their first loss to Cavalier in their last five meetings, Arnett Gardens should have taken the lead in the sixth minute when Steve Clarke picked out Renaldo Cephas in the box but the latter dragged his shot wide.
They would dominate the half taking 11 shots at goal. Cavalier, meanwhile, failed to register a single shot.
Arnett began the second half well with Hardley Barnes firing just wide in the 48th minute.
However, Cavalier gradually began to turn things around and ended the game brilliantly by a margin that could have been wider Shaniel Thomas’ goal not been ruled out for offside.
St Lucian defender Melvin Doxilly, who started in midfield, was named Man-of-the-Match for his scissor-kick goal.
“It was an amazing goal. I told myself I will score today and I want to say thanks to the Most High for making me score my goal today,” said Doxilly.
Meanwhile, Cavalier’s assistant coach Everdean Scarlett was happy for the win. “It’s a game of two halves. The first half they had the better of us but at half-time, we went in and made some changes. We decided that we are going to press Arnett more and get into the spaces,” said Scarlett.
Losing coach Alex Thomas said his young team still has a lot to learn.
“We have to learn to play both halves, first and second. We played a wonderful first half and in the second we came out flat and gave up some simple goals. But we have to learn, they are young and we are in a rebuilding process and we just have to keep working.”
Calvert Fitzgerald has decided to part ways with the management of Molynes United with immediate effect.
Following his resignation as head coach last evening, Fitzgerald had initially stayed on as the technical director but has since decided to sever ties with the club permanently.
He revealed that his decision to step aside as the technical director had to do with loyalty to his staff that he had brought in to work with him at the club.
After a two-year stint with the club, and just two games into the league this season, he has asked to be released from his contract. Fitzgerald also revealed that he was not happy with being relieved of his head coach duties and was no longer interested in staying at the club.
“I have asked for a termination letter, and I got it. My contract has now been officially terminated. They were asking me to be the technical director and I decided that I did not want that post, I prefer my contract to be terminated,” Fitzgerald said.
“I brought a staff, and I was contracted to the club for two years to be the head coach [and] technical director. So, if I relinquish the position as the coach then my staff would automatically have to go because the head coach that came in would bring in his people, as is the norm in football. So, even though I would still be there as the person in charge of the football, the people that I brought along would be out,” Fitzgerald continued.
Asked if there was any disagreement culminating in his resignation, Fitzgerald said he was unaware of any problems between himself and the club prior to Tuesday, July 13.
“No, everything started on Tuesday. Well, apparently things [were] happening that I did not know about, but the proposal was put to me on Tuesday.”
Plans are underway to finalize a mutual financial settlement, but the former head coach says that if the club is unwilling to satisfy his demands, he will be taking them to court.
“It depends on how we settle now, so if we can’t settle then it will end up in the court but if we can settle then we can see if it's alright.”
“But I have gotten the termination letter, so I am no longer [attached] to the club, so it is just for the financial aspect of the contract now to be concluded," Fitzgerald explained.
It is expected that both parties will meet next week to finalize the agreement, Sportsmax.TV has confirmed.
“Somebody will be doing that on my behalf, so we wouldn’t know until early next week when both parties meet or you know to see what is going to happen from then on,” Fitzgerald said.
However, chairman of Molynes United FC, Eurado Cornwall, says that the club’s executive members are currently discussing the matter and are expecting a decision to be made by today.
“Presently we are in an executive meeting right now discussing it, so as soon as we come to a conclusion, we will take it from there, hopefully, today (Thursday),” said Cornwall.
The Jamaica Premier League’ Mount Pleasant Football Academy has announced that Head Coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis and his technical have left the club with Technical Director Walter Downes taking over the team with immediate effect.
Calvert Fitzgerald has resigned as head coach of Jamaica Premier League club Molynes United with immediate effect but remains as its technical director, Sportsmax.TV has confirmed.
Former champions Arnett Gardens came from behind to beat Humble Lion 2-1 in an exciting encounter in the final game of round three of the Jamaica Premier League at the Stadium East field on Monday.
Former Arnett Gardens star, Vishinul Harris opened the scoring for his new club Humble Lion in the 8th minute. But goals by Jonoy Cunningham (14th) and Renaldo Cephas (75th) turned it around for the Junglists.
Harris latched on to a Levaughn Williams defense-splitting pass and slotted home, but Cunningham pulled Arnett Gardens level with a thumping header from an Oshane Roberts corner kick.
Then the lively and skilful Cephas, who missed a sitter in the 72nd minute, returned three minutes later and found the clincher in clinical fashion, side-footing home from close range in the 75th minute.
It was a very good win for Arnett as they moved into eighth spot with three points from two games. The Alex Thomas-coached outfit has a game in hand and sits just three points adrift of the leaders Portmore United.
Clarendon-based outfit Humble Lion remained at the bottom of the 11-team league. without a point from three games and with a lot of work to do.
Losing coach Andrew Price of Humble Lion said his team is getting fitter but they didn’t close down the opponents and paid the price.
“We didn’t press the Arnett Gardens team enough. They are a young team, full of energy, and if you don’t pressure then you won’t be able to gain the ascendancy,” Price said.
“I think we played in patches and weren’t very consistent throughout the game and we will just have to continue to work,” he added.
“We didn’t play well enough today to win the game and we will have to accept that. We have to look in the mirror and see we weren’t good enough today.”
He remained optimistic that things will turn around for the better, but it will take time.
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