The gap continues to widen between the promoted teams as Mount Pleasant FA beat hosts Dunbeholden FC 2-0 in the rescheduled Red Stripe Premier League match at Royal Lakes Complex in St Catherine yesterday.

Shaquille Notice, in the 35th minute, and Kemar Beckford (80th) got the goals for Mount Pleasant in wet and gloomy conditions.

Mount Pleasant, sitting pretty in play-off contention, are fourth on 33 points, while 11-placed Dunbeholden remain in relegation mire on 19 points.

Dunbeholden Assistant Coach Andrew Fraser said the midfield was a letdown against a Mount Pleasant team that, he believed, was not outstanding on the day.

“Mount Pleasant didn’t do enough to capitalise on all three points today. We lost from the midfield; the midfield just didn’t come out today. There was not enough creativity and we turned over the balls a lot and it cost us,” he told the Jamaica Observer in a post-match interview.

Mount Pleasant’s Nigel Stewart, standing in for Head Coach Donovan Duckie, who is serving a touchline ban, said his team deserved the victory.

“It was a good game; we’ve been playing good football all season, and it’s very good when there are three points to show for your good football. We wanted it more, and we knew we had to come and win today because we want to go up the table,” Stewart said.

The battle between the two promoted teams, both in their first seasons of top-flight football, was tight, belying their respective positions in the 12-team league table, but Mount Pleasant were more dangerous in attack throughout the 90 minutes.

Early in the game a glorious chipped delivery from Dunbeholden’s Demareo Phillips to Narado Brown unlocked the visitors’ defence. And Brown did well to control, but his shot on the turn was straight at Mount Pleasant goalkeeper Kadeem Davis.

At the other end, Mount Pleasant took the lead.

It came 10 minutes before half time when Notice got a glancing header on a firmly-struck Ladale Richie free kick, and the pace proved too much for Dunbeholden goalkeeper Eric Edwards.

A light drizzle met the early exchanges of the second half, and with it the Dunbeholden equaliser almost came, but Samar Rowe headed wide when he appeared set to hit the back of the net.

Mount Pleasant could have doubled their lead minutes later, but Beckford inexplicably side-footed wide after Cardel Benbow picked him out beautifully with a centre pass.

They did go two up when Devon Hodges pulled back a pass for Beckford to make amends, easily beating Edwards from close range.

That goal knocked the stuffing from the hosts and cemented all three points for Mount Pleasant.