CATHERINE HALL, St James — Montego Bay United overcame what could have been a tricky situation — a head coach change in the middle of the season — when they cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over Tivoli Gardens FC in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) football match at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday.

Following the sudden departure of Argentine Rodolfo Zapata on Saturday, the club had appointed new Head Coach Paul “Tegat” Davis and Technical Director Andrew Peart.

Long-serving assistant Dillon Thelwell, who served as interim head coach after Zapata left, said the players stepped up after the recent blip. Montego Bay had earned only one point from their previous two games — a loss to Dunbeholden FC and a draw against Cavalier FC.

“It’s always a good feeling when we win, knowing that we have been struggling for the last two to three games. And to come home with the players, work so hard in training, they understood the situation, they know where we are in the table, they knew what to do. They showed patience and just believed in themselves and just executed on the night,” Thelwell told the Jamaica Observer.

He said the coaching change had not affected the game preparation.

“We always take the positive from each situation — even the negative can turn into positive. I think it’s just unfortunate why [Zapata] is not here but, you know, coaches go and come, so the players understand that.”

Tivoli Gardens have lost to Montego Bay for a fourth-straight time and have not won against their St James-based opponents in their last six clashes.

Tivoli Gardens Head Coach Jerome Waite said they have to stay mentally sharp throughout games.

“The concentration level, it’s not good,” he told the Jamaica Observer,” adding that he believed transportation from Kingston to Montego Bay took its toll.

“But the concentration level will have to improve, defensively. I mean, the last goal? Come on, we have to keep our shape; we can’t give away goals like that.”

The opening goal came after 30 minutes when Montego Bay’s Owayne Gordon ended a 15-game scoreless run with a brilliant free kick. Central defender Jordan Britto scored his first JPL goal when he headed home from a corner in the 74th minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Jourdain Fletcher gave Montego Bay further cushion when he caught goalkeeper Nicholas Clarke straying off his line with a volleyed effort, to complete a swift counter-attack in the 90th minute.

Nickalia Fuller scored a consolation for Tivoli Gardens, a sublime free kick from just on the edge of the 18-yard box, in time added.

— Paul A Reid

WEDNESDAY’S RESULT

Molynes 0, Dunbeholden 1

THURSDAY’S GAMES

3:00 pm – Mount Pleasant vs Chapelton @ Drax Hall

3:00 pm – Tivoli Gardens vs Vere @ Edward Seaga Complex

3:00 pm – Humble Lion vs Waterhouse @ Effortville

4:30 pm – Cavalier vs Waterhouse @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

7:00 pm – Arnett Gardens vs Portmore @Anthony Spaulding Complex

6:00 pm – Montego Bay vs Racing @ Montego Bay Complex