CATHERINE HALL, St James — High-flying newcomers Mount Pleasant Football Academy had their perfect start to the Red Stripe Premier League snapped as they had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with former champions Montego Bay United on Monday evening at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Both teams got goals from veteran players as Orlando McBayne gave the home team the lead from the penalty spot after just nine minutes, while Devon Hodges equalised in the 30th minute after goalkeeper Zahvia Hutchinson failed to cleanly collect a long-range free kick.

However, it took two important saves, from Hutchinson late in the game to preserve the draw and earn his team a point that kept them in joint seventh-place with defending champions Portmore United, on four points. Mount Pleasant, meantime, climbed four places to second on seven points, tied with The University of the West Indies FC, and two behind leaders Tivoli Gardens, the only team with a perfect win record.

Montego Bay United Coach Vassell Reynolds and Mount Pleasant FA’s Donovan Duckie were satisfied with the result in a game thought to have been played in a great atmosphere, underlined by a frenetic first half.

Reynolds acknowledged that the visitors had the better of the possession, but praised his team which is unbeaten in their last two games after starting with a loss to Tivoli Gardens.

“They had the better of us in the attack, but it was a fair result… it was a very tactical game, but I thought we equipped ourselves very well and there were signs of improvement and I am proud of the performance today,” he said.

Duckie agreed with his counterpart that the result was a fair one.

“Both teams were very organised… [Montego Bay United] had a strong team [with a] good mix of experienced and young players, and the more they [made] changes, the more stable they got. We were good, but it was like a boxing match — you give and take,” said Duckie.

Mount Pleasant came closest to scoring in the first five minutes when the game swung from end to end with both teams going all out to get the advantage.

A cross from Kemar Beckford flashed across the Montego Bay United area from the left, just missing the far post by inches.

Montego Bay United were awarded a penalty kick after Mount Pleasant FA defender Ricardo Campbell inadvertently handled a cross from Allan Ottey. McBayne blasted it past goalkeeper Kadeen Davis in the ninth minute for the lead.

The home team just failed to add another in the 29th minute when Ottey finished off a three-man move down the right wing by crossing the ball just inches too far from Jourdaine Fletcher, who managed to evade his markers and was left wide open on the penalty spot.

Mount Pleasant tied up the scores a minute later when Hutchinson failed to hold on to a low free kick taken by Kevaughn Isaacs from about 25 yards out and Hodges was first to pounce, powering it into the goal.

The pace of the game dropped noticeably in the second half, but both teams threatened on occasions. During this spell it was Mount Pleasant who got the better scoring opportunities, only to be thwarted by an alert Hutchinson.

Teams:

Montego Bay United — Zahvia Hutchinson, Keneil Kirlew, Jermaine Woozencroft, Nicholas Amponsah, Orlando McBayne (Winston Wilkinson-80th), Shemar Robinson, Anthony Drummond, Nevaun Turner (Dwayne Ambusley-68th), Allan Ottey, Nazime Mattalie-Grant (Vahsean McBeam-63rd), Jourdaine Fletcher.

Subs not used: Aian Miller, Howard Dent, Giovanni Reid, Omar Brown

Booked: Ambusley (90+4)

Mt Pleasant FA — Kadeem Davis, Liston James, Ladale Richie (Kevin Graham-59th), Ricardo Campbell, Gregory Lewis, Suelae McCalla, Ronaldo Rodney (Latroy Laing-82nd), Kevaughn Isaacs, Cardel Benbow, Kemar Beckford, Devon Hodges (Kession Hall-67th).

Subs not used: Joseph Vargas, Kenroy Osment, Horace Sharpe, Alphonso Brown

Booked: Campbell-19th, Graham-90+4

Referee: Daneon Parchment

Assistants: Nicholas Anderson, Ojay Duhaney

Fourth Official: Andre Farquharson

Match Commissary: Devon Maxwell

— Paul Reid