CATHERINE HALL, St James — Montego Bay United (MBU) will finish the first round of the Red Stripe Premier League in the top half of the table after flogging promoted Savanah SC, 4-0 — their biggest defeat of the season so far — in their western ‘derby’ at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday.

Bahamian Lesly St Fleur scored twice and Omar Gordon and substitute Brian Brown once each for the Dr Dean Weatherly-coached team that improved its winning run to three straight games and is unbeaten over its last five, picking up 13 points to be on 16 overall and in fifth place entering the break in-between rounds.

MBU played most of the game with 10 men after midfielder Keneil Moodie was sent off by referee Wilverglen Lamey for stomping on a Savannah player in the 39th minute.

The almost meteoric rise by MBU coincided with Weatherly replacing Brazilian Neider dos Santos. After losing to defending champions Portmore United in his first assignment, the veteran tactician has masterminded a gradual improvement within the team.

On Sunday, Weatherly told the Jamaica Observer that the three-game streak “augurs well for the team as it proves our ‘defence first’ ball possession system is working”.

MBU have not conceded a goal in their last five outings and have gone 501 minutes since their last in a 2-1 loss to Portmore.

Weatherly, who was dos Santos’ top assistant since last season, said the team’s plans would change for each opponent, but added that the loss of Moodie for their next game against Harbour View would be “a big loss, but we have time to try and find some one to play his role in the midfield”.

Audley Thomas. who spoke on behalf of Savannah, said his players “lacked confidence” and did not make use of the man advantage they had from the first half.

After giving up the most goals in any one game since conceding three each against Sporting Central and to Boys’ Town in a game they led early in the previous round, Thomas hinted there could soon be changes in personnel.

A minute after Moodie was sent off, St Fleur took on the Savannah defence, dancing around goalkeeper Gavin Barrett and two defenders to fire into an unprotected goal in the 40th.

St Fleur grabbed his second and fourth in five games after another brilliant solo effort when he dribbled deep into the Savannah area and hit the net.

Brian Brown, who replaced James in the 64th, scored his second RSPL goal in the 86th, moments after skiing a free kick from the edge of the area when he powered a left-footer past Barrett.

Teams: Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Fabian McCarthy, Cordel Simpson, Ladale Richie, Jermaine Woozencroft, Keneil Moodie, Dwayne Ambusley, Kemiro James (Brian Brown 64th), Lesly St Fleur, Allan Ottey (Dino Wiliam 70th), Omar Gordon

Subs not used: W Wilkinson, S Beveney, J Eccleston, O Braham, R Reynolds

Booked: None

Ejected: Modie (39th)

Savannah SC — Gavin Barrett, Linval Wilson, Cavel Blake, Shamar Bernard, Leroy Taylor, Triston Sommerville, Marlon Sommerville, Nichodie Haughton, Omar Johnson (Frank Thomson 46th), Shane Anderson (Owen Cunningham 79th), Jessie Mayler (Ron Daley 64th)

Subs not used: R Young, N Brissett, N Daley, T Cunningham

Booked: Bernard (33rd)

Referee: Wilverglen Lamey

Assistants: Garnett Page, Malachi Brown

Fourth Official: Carvel Banton

Match Commissary: Tracey Reid