Although frustrated with his team’s performance on Sunday, Harbour View FC’s Jason Henry believes he’s earning the trust of the players in his first year as a head coach.

The Stars of the East suffered their fourth defeat in seven games of the 2024/25 Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League season after a 1-0 loss to bottom-placed Dunbeholden, who picked up their first win of the season, thanks to a Leo Campbell strike, early in the first half.

Henry was promoted from the club’s physical trainer position to head coach this summer, taking over from title-winning Coach Ludlow Bernard.

Despite sitting in the bottom half of the table on 7 points, it’s an improved start to the season for Harbour View, who at this stage last season were winless after six games and went on to finish 12th, just outside the relegation zone.

Henry has credited his players for their improved attitude but is demanding more.

“I’ve been at Harbour View since 2016, so I understand the club. I know most of these players so it’s just putting my football experience to it,” he said.

“They are responding to be honest, we’ve had a better start to the season but they owe the club something, last year was a disaster so they owe the club a season of top football. We have to just continue working and we’ll get better.”

Henry says they will have to improve their efficiency in attack after missing key chances over the last few games, including a penalty on Sunday.

“Football is based on the chances you create and the chance you take. If you look at those clear chances we created, the game would have never reached this,” he said.

“We’re still missing some attacking players because of different reasons but we just have to grind and pick up points until they come in. We’re not far off because one or two more wins and we’re back in the top six, but games like these, when we get chances, we have to bury them because when a team is down, we have to keep them down.”

Dunbeholden Head Coach Byjeon Thomas was elated to see his team get off the mark after suffering four-straight losses.

“I think it’s just belief. They believed they could do it and they did it today,” he said. “I’m just happy for the boys. The talent in this group doesn’t deserve to be where they are in the table, so I’m happy they got the first three points of the season.”

Thomas, who replaced Philip Williams after just two games, says the team will improve in time.

“It’s not going to be straightforward when a new coach comes in. A different coach started the season, carried them through preseason and he left, so we’re just building back the belief and we’ll see how far we can finish.”

Sunday’s Results

Dunbeholden 1, Harbour View 0

Molynes United, 0 Humble Lion 1

Mount Pleasant 1 Tivoli 0

Montego Bay 0 Portmore 0

Monday’s Games

Chapelton Maroons vs Waterhouse @ 5 pm

Racing United vs Vere Phoenix United @ 7:30 pm

*Both matches are set for the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex