Defending champion Cavalier edged newcomers Treasure Beach FC 2-1 in a contentious game that left the visiting team crying foul in their Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League match at Sabina Park on Sunday.

Cavalier got the win courtesy of two penalties, scored by Dwayne Allen in the eighth minute and Antigua and Barbuda’s Daryl Massicot in the 61st minute, after goalkeeper Mowey Morgan was adjudged to have fouled Shaquille Stein.

Jaheim Harris had pulled Treasure Beach level in the 40th minute, firing home after latching onto a through ball. But Treasure Beach had what appeared to be a legitimate equalising goal, chalked off by referee Okeito Nicholson, late in the second half.

Cavalier, coming off a 1-2 defeat to Mount Pleasant, rebounded with their second win of the season and moved to seven points, provisionally climbing five places from ninth to fourth.

The promoted Treasure Beach, which was suffering its third defeat in five games, slipped to 11th spot on four points and Head Coach Kemar Ricketts said his team just needed a break from the bad calls.

“We stood tall versus the champions as a lot of teams would have come and sit down,” Ricketts said. “We didn’t just sit back behind the ball, we created some chances and scored a goal that was deemed not to be a goal.

“It’s hard to lose the game by two penalties. We conceded some questionable penalties, but it’s all over the world, even VAR is blundering, so let’s just go again.

“There is no VAR here where we can go back to the video and look at it. But that’s how it is, so we just have to keep going.”

Cavalier’s assistant, David Lalor, pointed to fatigue for his team’s below-par performance but was more than happy for the three points.

“I think we were a little bit tired playing three consecutive games, Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, so that contributed to the lapse a lot of times in the game,” he said.

“But I think we did well to win the game, Treasure Beach could have gone ahead a couple of times, but we also missed some opportunities.”

Surprise package Racing United and Dunbeholden battled to a 0-0 draw in the curtain-raiser at Waterhouse Stadium, but provisionally jumped to the top of the league on 10 points. Dunbeholden moved into fifth spot on seven points.

But the top of the table could change as the previous leader, Montego Bay United on 10 points, are involved in a late encounter against Portmore United. Up to press time, Portmore United on seven points, were leading Montego Bay 1-0.

At the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, home team Tivoli Gardens and Molynes United played to a 1-1 draw.

An own goal by Alton Lewis gave Molynes United the lead in the 57th minute before Kavan Wilson earned a share of the points for Tivoli Gardens, netting in minute 81.

Tivoli Gardens are sitting in 10th spot on five points, while Molynes United are second from bottom in 13th spot with three points.