CATHERINE HALL, St James — Merron Gordon made a winning start to his coaching stint at Humble Lion on Thursday night, edging Montego Bay United 1-0 in their rescheduled, 11th-round Red Stripe Premier League game at Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Jermaine Christian came off the bench in the 80th minute to score the winner from the penalty spot 10 minutes later, and extend their unbeaten run against the former champions to four games.

The win saw Humble Lion move one spot up to ninth place on 13 points, leapfrogging Waterhouse, while Montego Bay United remained in seventh place on 15 points and saw their three-game unbeaten run snapped.

Gordon, who replaced Lenworth Hyde who left his position earlier this week, told the Jamaica Observer they beat MBU with superior strategies.

“Tactically, I think we got it right… we created more chances than them. I think we could have put away the game much earlier, but it’s a good start for the team, a good start for the community and a good start for me, and we just have to build on this,” he said.

Dillon Thelwell, who is filling in for Rod Underwood on the MBU bench, thought his team’s lack of concentration late in the game cost them points.

“I think the guys did well in the first half, but we broke down in the last five minutes (when) one of the wing backs got caught too deep and the diagonal ball caught us,” he reasoned.

Thelwell added that his team did not play badly and should have come away with points.

“It was a good performance by the MBU team and I dont think the scoreline reflected how we played… I think we did well, we worked hard and fought all the way. We just have to work harder and come back stronger,” said Thelwell.

The visitors started better and had several scoring chances in front of the MBU goal, but failed to capitalise as former MBU player Corey Hylton and Gregory Lewis were off target.

MBU had their first look at goal in the 17th minute when Jefroy Leslie turned well between two defenders just on the edge of the 18-yard box, but his powerful left-footer flashed just wide of Jovell Plunkett’s goal.

Plukett came up big in the 26th minute when he parried a powerful drive shot from Nicholas Stewart from the right touchline, getting to the ball just before it got to two MBU players in the penalty area.

MBU had yet another good scoring opportunity in the 39th minute, but Lesly St Fleur’s shot, after a good combination with Raeem Pringle, was deflected for a corner.

Humble Lion just missed taking the lead in the 50th minute when Romoy Parkins lofted a pass to Lewis, who fired just inches wide of the far right post.

The visitors made the better adjustments as the game went on, forcing Swaby to come off his line twice in a span of a few minutes to block shots on the edge of his 18-yard area after balls were swung into the MBU defensive area from the right side to the left flank.

The third time proved to be the charm for Humble Lion when they broke the MBU resistance, as Swaby was judged to have fouled Christian who got up and steered the spot kick just out of reach of the goalkeeper and across the line at his right post.

Teams:

Montego Bay United — David Swaby, Dwayne Ambusley, Orlando McBayne (Anthony Drummond-75th), Nicholas Stewart, Ladale Richie, Nicholas Amponsah, Keniel Kirlew, Donovan Carey (Odane Nish-84th), Lesly St Fleur, Jefroy Leslie, Raeem Pringle (Johann Weatherly-56th).

Subs not used: John Barrett, Hietolah Gardner, Omar Brown

Booked: Richie (53rd), Drummond (87th(), Swaby (90th)

Humble Lion — Jovell Plunkett, Kevon Reid, Hugh Howell, Kirk Duckworth, Kemar Drake, Gregory Lewis, Andrew Vanzie, Romario Campbell (Jermaine Christian-80th), Romoy Parkins (Kevaughn Isaacs-70th), Levaughn Williams, Corey Hylton (Ricardo Dennis-63rd)

Subs not used:Ajuran Brown, Rafe Wolfe, Gary McIntosh

Booked: Reid (85th)

Referee:Crystal Sobers (Trinidad)

Assistants: Stephany Dale Yee Singh, Jasceth Kerr

Fourth official: Veralton Nembhard

Match commissary: Gregory Daley