Mt Pleasant Academy staged a dramatic late comeback to secure a 2-2 draw with defending champions Cavalier SC, as the Jamaica Premier League resumed on Sunday. Cavalier had looked set for a comfortable victory after taking a commanding 2-0 lead, but Mt Pleasant struck twice in the final stages to snatch a share of the points.
Cavalier opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Christopher Shaw converted from the penalty spot. Jalmaro Calvin added to their advantage in the 34th minute, giving the champions a solid lead heading into halftime. However, Mt Pleasant Academy fought back late, with Kimoni Travolta scoring in the 84th minute and Tevin Shaw netting the equalizer three minutes into stoppage time, completing a thrilling comeback.
Elsewhere, Warner Brown stole the spotlight with a brace as Arnett Gardens registered their second win of the season, defeating Molynes FC 3-0. Brown opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Kimani Arbourine doubled Arnett’s lead in the 22nd. Brown added his second and Arnett’s third goal in the 47th minute, sealing the victory and lifting spirits in the ‘junglists’ camp.
Portmore United edged Chapelton Maroons 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Junior Grizzle, while Vere Phoenix blanked Dunbeholden FC 3-0, with Alex Gayle scoring and Romarion Thomas netting twice.
Despite these results, Montego Bay United remains top of the table on 13 points, just one point ahead of Portmore United and two points ahead of Cavalier SC, keeping the race for the top spot tight in the early stages of the season.
Montego Bay United delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday night, blanking Molynes United 4-0 to take sole possession of the top spot in the Jamaica Premier League standings. The victory saw Montego Bay soar to 12 points after four matches, maintaining their unbeaten run in this season's competition.
Montego Bay’s dominance began in the 24th minute when Owayne Gordon confidently converted a penalty, putting his side ahead. Just two minutes later, Shaniel Thomas doubled the lead, putting Molynes on the back foot early. Thomas, in sparkling form, struck again in the 60th minute, completing his brace and further solidifying Montego Bay's grip on the match. The final blow came in the 75th minute when Brian Brown added his name to the scoresheet, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win for the Montego Bay side.
The victory not only cements Montego Bay’s title ambitions but also highlights their attacking prowess, with their goal tally standing strong at 10 goals in four matches. Molynes, on the other hand, continue to struggle, remaining winless this season.
At the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, Arnett Gardens FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Mount Pleasant in an exciting matchup. Kimani Airbourine gave Arnett an early lead, netting in the 13th minute, but Mount Pleasant found their way back into the game before halftime when Kimoni Bailey equalized in the 42nd minute. Despite both teams pushing for a winner in the second half, neither side could find the breakthrough, resulting in a hard-fought draw.
At Drewsland Stadium, Waterhouse FC overcame an early setback to defeat Vere Phoenix United 2-1. Daye Ewan put Vere in front with an early goal, but Waterhouse responded swiftly, with Atapharoy Bygrave scoring in the 19th minute to level the match. Bygrave was the hero once again, scoring his second and Waterhouse’s decisive goal in the 47th minute, ensuring his team secured all three points.
With these results, the Jamaica Premier League standings remain competitive as teams continue to battle for top honors in the 2024-2025 season. Montego Bay United's victory pushes them to the top, while Waterhouse FC and Arnett Gardens maintain their pursuit of the leaders.
Defending champions Cavalier SC delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over a 10-man Waterhouse FC at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday, climbing to the top of the Jamaica Premier League standings. Early goals from Jalmaro Calvin and Dwayne Atkinson sealed the win, leaving Waterhouse struggling after goalkeeper Kemar Foster was sent off in the first half.
Cavalier wasted little time asserting their dominance. Calvin fired the opening goal in the 12th minute after Atkinson skillfully turned his defender inside out and set up Calvin to score from six yards out. The defending champions nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute, but Adrian Reid Jr couldn’t convert a free kick from close range.
Waterhouse’s fortunes worsened in the 32nd minute when a poor back pass from Nickoy Christian forced goalkeeper Kemar Foster into a last-ditch tackle outside the box, resulting in a straight red card. With substitute goalkeeper John Wilson brought on, the pressure mounted. Just three minutes after entering the game, Wilson's pass from the back was intercepted by Atkinson, who slotted home to make it 2-0.
Atkinson nearly added a third goal two minutes before halftime, rattling the crossbar after more defensive errors from Waterhouse. Despite being a man down, Waterhouse showed resilience in the second half, with Elvis Wilson coming close to pulling one back with a towering header that Cavalier’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett had to save at full stretch.
However, Cavalier continued to exploit Waterhouse’s defensive lapses, with Shaquille Stein hitting the post in the 55th minute after another error at the back. Waterhouse failed to mount a significant comeback, and Cavalier comfortably saw out the match to claim their second win of the season.
The victory lifts Cavalier to seven points, one ahead of Harbour View, who secured a 2-1 victory over Molynes United earlier in the day.
Elsewhere, Humble Lion were left frustrated after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Vere United at the Wembley Centre of Excellence. Dominating much of the match despite the wet conditions, Humble Lion took the lead in the 73rd minute through a penalty from Karim Bryan after Vere defender Michael Forbes was sent off for bringing down Andre Clennon in the box.
However, Vere, despite being a man down, fought back in the dying moments of the game. Substitute schoolboy Kishane Gordon found the back of the net in stoppage time, slotting home after a neat pass from Josiah Daniel to snatch a point for Vere United.
Harbour View made their return to their home ground at Compound a successful one, securing a 2-1 win over Molynes United. The victory moves Harbour View to six points, just behind Cavalier on the Jamaica Premier League table.
In the late game on Sunday, Arnett Gardens and Racing United played to a exciting 1-1 draw.
Defending champions Cavalier got the new Jamaica Premier League season underway with a win against Arnett Gardens FC in an enthralling encounter at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston.
Central defender, Jamoi Topey, gave Cavalier the lead in the 60th minute before Chavany Willis got an equaliser that he thought would salvage a draw in the 96th minute.
Cavalier forward Shaniel Thomas had other ideas as he slotted home a right-footed effort in the 97th minute to secure a win and three points for the two-time champions.
The second match on Sunday was also an exciting one between four-time champions Waterhouse FC and Montego Bay United, who have also won the title four times.
Montego Bay United took the lead in the 57th minute through Giovanni Reid before Waterhouse equalised in the 72nd minute through an Andre Fletcher penalty.
Waterhouse completed the comeback in the 81st minute through a goal from Devroy Grey. The action then shifted to Monday, January 17 with two more matches.
Dunbeholden FC and Vere United FC contested the first game with Dunbeholden securing a 2-1 victory.
They took the lead in the eighth minute through an excellent header from Atapharoy Bygrave before Lampard Neil tied things up for Vere in the 57th minute.
Substitute Jahmiel Hardware secured the three points for Dunbeholden with a well-placed free kick in the 92nd minute.
In the second match, goals from Warner Brown in the 42nd minute and Shai Smith in the 87th minute ensured that five-time winners Tivoli Gardens FC and seven-time winners Portmore United FC played out a 1-1 draw.
On Tuesday, four-time champions Harbour View FC and Molynes United FC played out a 2-2 draw thanks to double strikes from Trayvon Reid and Nicholas Nelson.
Nelson gave Molynes United the lead in the 42nd minute before Reid made it 1-1 in the 45th minute.
The 58th minute saw Nelson get his second to give Molynes United a 2-1 lead before Reid once again equalized in the 90th minute to ensure the points were shared.
In the second game on the day, goals from Daniel Green in the 14th and 43rd minutes, as well as strikes from Allan Ottey in the 17th, Ricardo Morris in the 45th, and Donovan Segree in the 90th helped Mount Pleasant FA secure the biggest win of the round, a 5-1 rout of Humble Lion FC.
Cory Hylton got Humble Lion’s consolation goal in the 83rd minute.
The second round of matches kicks off on Saturday.
Waterhouse FC thrashed Molynes United 4-1 to secure a place in the Jamaica Premier League playoffs in the first match of a triple-header at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on Friday.
In-form striker Oquassa Chong scored in the 74th minute to steer Harbour View to a 1-0 win over Molynes United in their Jamaica Premier League match at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre earlier 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.
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.
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.
With the last kick of the game, Damano Solomon gave Portmore United a 1-0 win over Molynes United in the first Jamaica Premier League at the Stadium East field on Saturday.
Solomon latched onto a free-kick by Ricardo Morris six minutes into stoppage time and snatched victory in a game that seemed destined for a draw. It was a heartbreaking loss for a Molynes United team whose spirited display deserved a share of the points.
In the end, Portmore United secured their second win from three games and jumped to the top of the league with six points in the first match of the third round.
Molynes United remained in eighth on one point from two games.
Winning coach Ricardo Gardner was more than happy to take all three points.
“Football is like this sometimes. We would love to have put our chances away but, unfortunately, it wasn’t like that,” he said.
“I think our keeper made a very good save to keep us in the game. We left ourselves a little bit too open at times and gave our opponents (the chance) to go through on our keeper but we just have to improve on this.”
Molynes United’s coach Calvert Fitzgerald said the manner of the loss was disappointing.
“It’s a heartbreaker because we lost with the last kick of the game,” he said. “I thought Portmore played well, we countered and with the ebb and flow of the game, if I had gotten a point I would have been satisfied,” he said.
Portmore United created many opportunities but was thwarted by outstanding goalkeeping by Roje Williams and poor finishing.
In the 17th minute, Shante James whipped in a vicious shot that goalkeeper Williams blocked. A mad scramble ensued inside the box a Portmore United attacker committed a foul that ended any goalscoring opportunity.
As Portmore continued to dominate, Demario Phillips long-range free-kick took a deflection that forced goalkeeper Williams to save low to his left after initially going to his right.
A minute later, Portmore’s captain Ricardo Morris was on the end of a defence-splitting pass but smashed the ball into the side netting with his weaker right foot. Morris kicked over the bar in minute 30.
The lively Demario Phillips unleashed a powerful shot at goal that was parried for a corner, and from the resulting kick, Phillips teed up Seigle Knight, who crashed his shot onto the crossbar in the 40th minute. Molynes goalkeeper Williams would again come to the rescue of his team in true sweeper-keeper fashion, racing off his line to nullify Javick McFarlane, who was clean through on goal.
Morris would later kick high with Williams badly out of position.
Molynes United came out firing in the second half and former National Under-20 striker Nicholas Nelson, was through on goal on a couple of occasions, but good goalkeeping by Kemar Foster negated his chances.
In minute 52, Portmore came close to opening the scoring when Revaldo Mitchell slotted past the onrushing Williams but the ball was cleared off the line by Damion Thomas.
In the 65th minute, Nelson latched onto a ball over the top but Foster advanced to block with his feet. Then Foster again saved well to his left with another fantastic effort from Nelson.
Another good build-up play by Molynes involving three players was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle.
Portmore United’s Alvinus Myers was named Man of the Match.
Vere United and Molynes United played to a gloomy 0-0 stalemate in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, the University of the West Indies on Monday.
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