DESPITE being dissatisfied with their attacking output, Mount Pleasant Football Academy Head Coach Theodore Whitmore says he’s pleased with the team’s start to the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League season after a 2-0 win over Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday.

First-half goals from Captain Sue-Lae McCalla and Shaqueil Bradford were enough to give the St Ann-based club its first win of the season.

Whitmore believes the scoreline could have been bigger but believes they did a lot of things right.

“[I am] very pleased with the first half of the game. In the second half we took our foot off the pedal but the execution in the first half was very up to par to what we expected, and we move forward,” he said.

“We did well when we were out of possession — we didn’t give the opponent too much look-in at goal — but my disappointment would be in the final third of the pitch. We didn’t execute enough in the final third so that’s an area we need to improve. But, it’s the first game of the season so we move on.”

Since Whitmore’s reappointment in August, several players moved on from the club while a number of new signings were brought in, including defenders Gadail Irving and Kyle Ming who were key figures in Cavalier FC’s title win last season.

Whitmore says he’s remaining patient with the squad after seeing positive signs.

“It’s not going to be a one-game or a one-off performance. Game by game they would have improved but the chemistry, they’re getting to know what we want from them and what we’re trying to do, and we saw it,” said Whitmore.

In his first game as a senior head coach, Rodolph Austin wasn’t overly disappointed with Portmore’s effort.

“We didn’t play well [in the] first half [but] we came out [in the] second half and gave a better account of ourselves, so we need to work on how we start games. We gave up a soft goal from a set play so we have to do better,” said Austin.

“You have to take it a game at a time. You don’t know where the other teams are a time then, maybe after the second round when you have an idea of how the other teams are, then you can assess things. We’re Portmore United; we always play to win games, so that’s it,” he added.

In the opening game of the season Vere Phoenix United, under new co-owner and Technical Director Craig Butler, were beaten 1-4 by Montego Bay United at Wembley Centre of Excellence, with Argentine Rodolfo Zapata getting his first win as head coach.

— Daniel Blake

WHITMORE… the execution in the first half was very up to par to what we expected, and we move forward (Photo: Karl Mclarty)