ST JAMES, Jamaica — Jourdain Fletcher came off the bench to score a late double on his seasonal debut as Montego Bay United rallied late to beat promoted Treasure Beach FC 3-1 in the Jamaica Premier League football game at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday.

The home team squandered a number of scoring chances after taking an early lead through Jahmari Clarke, allowing Treasure Beach FC to equalise late before Fletcher ignited the crowd with his double.

It was the third-straight win for Montego Bay United against Treasure Beach FC at this level. The result saw them tied for third place on four points with Portmore United and defending champions Cavalier FC. Racing United and Chapelton Maroons are the early league leaders.

Despite bouncing back from the 2-2 result against Mount Pleasant FA on the opening match day, Xavier Gilbert, the Montego Bay United head coach, sees a lot to work on, he said.

“I just don’t think we were composed enough in front of goal and sometimes I thought complacency set in. We got some good plays in wide areas, but the crosses were either too deep, over hit, or we weren’t making the right runs inside the box,” said Gilbert, only two games into his tenure as coach of the St James-based club.

He said he had warned his team at half-time that if they did not score a second goal early, Treasure Beach could hurt them.

“And they [Treasure Beach] did [score]. But, nevertheless, we stuck it out, scored late, and we managed to get all [three points] and I am happy for that [victory] but disappointed that we conceded a goal.”

Kemar Ricketts, the Treasure Beach coach, said he was not discouraged by the outcome.

“I think we put in a good shift and it is unfortunate that we didn’t get something out of the game,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“We held on throughout the game. We came back to level the scores at 1-1 and, unfortunately, we conceded those goals in the last part of the game.”

Clarke, who scored against Mount Pleasant last week and was a goalscoring threat throughout the encounter against Treasure Beach, got the opening goal in the 13th minute. And despite creating a number of good scoring chances, including hitting the cross bar early in the second half, Montego Bay were unable to add to the score.

Treasure Beach would not give up and got their reward when second-half substitute Omari Brown levelled the score in the 85th minute.

The St Elizabeth-based team looked set to earn its first point from Montego Bay United in the Premier League before Fletcher’s intervention.

The attacker, who entered play in the 62nd minute, restored the home team’s lead in the 89th minute when he converted a penalty kick after Triston Forde had handled the ball in his own area.

Fletcher then added icing to the cake when he dribbled from the half line and got past goalkeeper Mowey Morgan to score in an unprotected goal in time added.

— Paul A Reid

Treasure Beach FC goalkeeper Mowey Morgan goes full stretch to his left to keep out a free kick during the Jamaica Premier League football match against Montego Bay United. (Photo: Paul Reid)

Jourdain Fletcher of Montego Bay United (left) takes on Treasure Beach FC players Tommy Lawrence (centre) and Triston Forde during the Jamaica Premier League match at Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James on Monday. (Photo: Paul Reid)