FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Montego Bay United scored a tepid 1-0 win over Village United at the Elliston Wakeland Centre on Sunday as the fourth round of the Red Stripe Premier League got underway.

Under hot sun both teams showed flashes of industry but nothing to entertain the sparse crowd for too long and it took an own goal early in the game to decide the points for the visitors.

Montego Bay United, who are assured of a place in the league next season, created the majority of the chances, but despite this never managed to beat goalkeeper Keith Hamilton.

The lone goal of the game came in the eighth minute when a cross form Jerome Eccleston from the right side was turned into his own goal by Village defender Ladale Richie.

There was a surreal moment late in the first half when the Village United coaching staff attempted to make a substitution but the players they wanted to take off, Jeff Pearce, ignored them and instead changed positions from central defender to centre forward.

Pearce, who returned to the team after a year-plus absence in the January transfer window, then returned to the field in the second half and played as an attacker as the team changed the formation.

As fate would have it, Pearce who a few seasons ago scored several goals to keep Village United in the Premier League, missed the easiest chance of the game.

In the 76th minute a ball from the right was misplayed by Montego Bay United goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett but Pearce, the tallest player in he field, headed the ball high over he unprotected goal.

Teams:

Village — Keith Hamilton, Ladale Richie, Jeff Pearce, Ian McAnuff, Orlando McBayne, Dino Williams, Aldaine Grant (Omar Williams 64th), Roy Forbes (Jordon Thorpe 68th), Romando Anderson (Shavar Campbell 60th, Shaunavon McKenzie, Andre Moore.

Subs not used: G Anderson, B Lawrence, A Williams, R Francis

Booked: Hamilton (91st)

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Dwayne Ambusley, Jerome Eccleston, Keneil Moodie (Leon Irving-64th), Winston Wilkinson, Kemiro James (Richard Orrett-46th), Fabian McCarthy, Rohan Bernard, Omar Gordon, Allan Ottey (Mouracio Godon-80th), Donovan Carey.

Subs not used: T Reid, A Barker, N Lynch, N Stewart

Booked: Irving (68th), Ottey (71st)

Referee: Cordella Samuels

Assistants: Stacyann Grayson, Nicholas Anderson

Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings

Match Commissary: Neil Campbell