Fletcher scores first JPL hat- trick as MBU beat Molynes 5-0
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Jourdain Fletcher scored his first Jamaica Premier League hat-trick and the first for Montego Bay United in the local competition in 10 years as they steam-rolled Molynes United 5-0 in their third round game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday.
The win took Montego Bay United to 63 points, vaulting Arnett Gardens, into second place while Molynes United who have taken just two points from their last four games are in 12th place on 28 points, the same as 11th-placed Harbour View.
While Fletcher’s first two goals were gift-wrapped by Molynes United’s goalkeeper Darren Donaie in the fourth and 24th minutes, the third in the 54th minute was a strike of quality from outside the 18-yard box.
Brian Brown who came off the bench in a third straight game after missing the previous 11 games with an injury, scored his 11th goal of the season, a penalty earned by Fletcher, while Owayne Gordon got the fifth in the 75th minute.
Fletcher who is now on seven goals for the season, was quickest to the ball after Donaie dropped a high cross and shot into an unprotected goal.
Donaie made a second blunder 20 minutes later when he rushed out of his 18-yard box and missed the ball only for Fletcher to lob it into the wide-open goal.
Fletcher completed his hat- trick in the 54th minute when he was allowed space and powered a left foot strike past Donaie.
He was brought down in the box in the 75th minute and Brown made no mistake, scoring for the first time since January 5 when he scored both goals in a come from behind 2-1 win over Chapelton Maroons.
Gordon scored his sixth goal of the season when he fired between goalkeeper Donaie and his near left post after being set up by national Under-17 representative Javaughn Anglin.
The last Montego Bay United player to score a hat- trick in the local Premier league was Dino Williams in the final of the 2013-14 season when they beat Waterhouse 5-2 at the National Stadium.
Gordon also got a hat- trick against Scholars International of Cayman in the 2016 opening Group Three Caribbean Football Union Club Championship game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
