ST JAMES, Jamaica — Montego Bay United took over the lead in the Jamaica Premier League on Sunday after a disjointed 3-1 win over Tivoli Gardens in their first round game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Dwight Merrick scored a double and Jourdain Fletcher got the other as Montego Bay United dominated the first of the game, winning three straight as they improved to 10 points, one more than Racing United and Chapelton Maroons while Tivoli Gardens who went into the game with a win over Spanish Town Police FC, slipped to 10th place on four points, same as defending champions Cavalier SC and Treasure Beach FC.

Montego Bay United scored three times in a 25-minute span in the first half while missing two wide-open chances, Merrick and Fletcher being the culprits, but dropped their intensity in the second half, allowing Tivoli Gardens back into the game.

Merrick fired Montego Bay United into the lead after just six minutes when he fired a pass from Okeemo Jones past goalkeeper Diego Haughton. He then missed a sitter after he was set up by a pinpoint pass from Fletcher in the 19th minute but with the goal at his mercy, he fumbled badly and was robbed of the ball by the recovering defence.

Merrick atoned a minute later when he capitalised on a defence lapse and beat Haughton from just inside the 18-yard box. Fletcher made it 3-0 in the 31st minute when he turned a pass from Nashordo Gibbs past Haughton at his near right post.

Fletcher should have completed his double in the 39th minute but he steered his shot just wide of an unprotected goal with Haughton stranded at the other end.

Tivoli Gardens got a consolation in the 59th minute when Kavan Wilson scrambled home a ball from a melee.

— Paul A Reid