CATHERINE HALL, St James — Western Jamaica’s only Red Stripe Premier League club Montego Bay United (MBU) maintained their record of never losing to Sporting Central Academy at home, with a hard fought 2-0 win in their opening home fixture at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday.

Goals from Bahamian international Lesly St Fleur in the first half and Ronaldo Rodney early in the second half gave MBU their third win over the Clarendon team after beating them twice in four meetings last season.

The win, which came after MBU’s opening round 1- 0 loss to Tivoli Gardens the previous Sunday, pushed the Montego Bay club into a three- way -tie for third place on three points with Sporting Central and Waterhouse.

It was a better start for MBU who are taking instructions from the much travelled coach Donovan Duckie, since losing their first three games last season.

Montego Bay United will be on the road again this Sunday when they travel to Kingston to take on struggling defending champions Harbour View.

At the start of the game on Sunday, it appeared that the fast moving Sporting Central team would get their first win at the Montego Bay Sports Complex and Gregory Lewis missed a good chance early in the game to reward their dominance.

After a quick move down the right side that drew the Montego Bay United defense and goal keeper Jacomeno Barrett to that side, leaving the other half of the goal exposed, Lewis dragged his shot just wide of the target.

Montego Bay United gradually took the ascendency and eventually grabbed the lead when St Fleur glanced a header from a corner taken by Lacon Brissett past goalkeeper Gerald Eastwood in the 34th minute, quieting a loud set of travelling supporters.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Rodney added a second goal, finishing off a brilliant move down the right led by Jermaine Woozencroft as the Montego Bay United’s slick passing in close quarters, left the Sporting defense wide open; Rodney had time to fire high into the net over Eastwood’s left shoulder as the custodian stayed rooted to the ground.

A minute later Eastwood reacted just in time to deflect a shot from Woozencroft that was aimed at just under his cross bar.

Allan Ottey who replaced Graeme Green in the 60th minute was denied his first goal of the season when Eastwood used his left wrist to block a ferocious drive at his near left post after the striker was sent through and sped past two defenders.

Sporting had a chance to at least salvage a goal late in the game when MBU’s goalkeeper Barrett managed to knock down a shot from Cornelius Henry and the deflected ball went to Jamoly Powell whose low hard cross flew across the face of the goal before a Sporting player could react to it.