Following Dunbeholden Football Club’s controversial 3-2 win over Molynes United in the Jamaica Premier League, Assistant Coach Craig Richards gave a rallying cry for the team to push for a play-off spot.

Playing the first game of a double-header at Jamaica College’s (JC) Ashenhiem Stadium on Sunday, Captain Ricardo Thomas scored twice from the penalty spot in the 28th and 42nd minutes for Dunbeholden, before Peter McGregor slotted in another in the 79th minute to give his team all three points.

Jason Wright, in the 65th minute, and Nicholas Nelson, in the 89th, got the goals for Molynes United.

Jonoy Cunningham of Molynes received two yellow cards and was sent off in the first minue of first-half stoppage time.

“The result is what is most important at this time. At this point of the season it is very important to get the victory, and so we are pleased with the win here, regardless of how it came today,” Richards said.

“Definitely, our aim at this time is to reach the play-offs, and we are pushing for it, and we will continue to push for it ’til our last game. We believe in every single player, as everybody is equally important to us.

“Once we have a match, we look at the best 11 at the time and bank them. Once we put them on the field we know they will try to do their best to deliver, and we are pleased that they are delivering, so we are happy with the win,” he added.

Alex Thomas, the Molynes coach, said lack of concentration led to the concession of both penalties but credited his team for fighting back.

“These types of games are a tough battle, and you have to be able to manage the game. We went down due to the red card, and the game felt a bit off, but well done to the team as they picked it up with 10 men on the field.

“Unfortunately, we went down 2-3 to Dunbeholden. Two bad tackles in the box resulted from a lapse in concentration. We have to be mentally focused, and that was what caused us to fall apart, but we have to go back to the drawing board and come back for next week,” Thomas said.

It was Dunbeholden who started the match with greater aggression in search of early goals. The speedy Stephen Barnett skilfully won Dunbeholden two penalties. Thomas easily converted from the spot in the 28th and 42nd minutes, first with his left foot and and then with his right.

Barnett was brought down twice by Damion Thomas in the box, and the second penalty resulted in a heated exchange between some Molynes United players and match officials.

The Molynes players contention was that Barnett had handled the ball in the build-up to him winning the penalty.

Molynes United went down to 10 players when Cunningham was yellow-carded for a reckless tackle as Dunbeholden entered the break up 2-0.

Despite playing one short, Molynes United came out on the resumption in an attacking mode and immediately created goal-scoring opportunities. The pressure took its toll on Dunbeholden and they gave up a penalty in the 65th minute, which Wright easily converted.

McGregor restored Dunbeholden’s two-goal cushion in the 79th minute with an easy tap-in from close range. It was a nervy ending for Dunbeholden when Nelson combined with Wright for an 89th-minute goal.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Molynes 2, Dunbeholden 3

Tivoli Gardens 0, Cavalier 1

Humble Lion 2, Vere 0

Harbour View 0, Portmore 1