Portmore outscore Cavalier 4-2 as top three win in JPL
The top three teams all scored wins to extend their gap on the rest of the Jamaica Premier League in Sunday’s rain affected eighth round of play.
Jourdain Fletcher scored a double for leaders Montego Bay United in their 2-0 win over Molynes United while unbeaten Racing United and Portmore United both rebounded from multiple draws to beat 10-man Spanish Town Police FC and defending champions Cavalier, respectively.
Also on Sunday, Mt Pleasant FA got their second win in three games, Treasure Beach and Waterhouse FC combined to miss three penalties in their 0-0 draw, while the game between Arnett Gardens and Dunbeholden FC was postponed.
Montego Bay extended their winning run against Molynes to five straight, outscoring them 15-0 in the process, as Fletcher scored in the 45th and 58th minutes, both from close range, in a game that was played in mostly rainy condition at Stadium East field.
The brace took Fletcher’s tally to five goals, tied with teammate Dwight Miekle for the lead in the competition.
Racing, who had endured three straight goal-less draws, rediscovered their scoring prowess as they blanked last-placed Spanish Town Police 3-0.
Tajay Grant gave Racing the lead in the 52nd minute, snapping their goal scoring drought at 325 minutes since they outscored Treasure Beach FC 4-2 in the fourth round.
Giovanni Cunningham scored the second in the 59th minute before Haile Beckles came off the bench to score the third goal in the 87th minute.
Spanish Town Police played the entire second half with 10 players after Anil Ferguson was sent off in the 44th minute, the fourth red card for the team playing in the Premier League for the first time.
Ronaldo Robinson scored two for Portmore, who came from behind twice in the first half to beat Cavalier 4-2 in the second game of the double header at Stadium East.
Daryl Massicot wasted little time in giving Cavalier the lead when he scored with just over 40 seconds on the clock.
Robinson equalised in the 19th minute before Kwayne Thompson restored Cavalier’s lead at 2-1 in the 31st minute.
Peter McGregor then brought Portmore United back a second time when he scored in the 34th minute, and Robinson completed his brace in the 41st minute when he converted a penalty.
Portmore scored a fourth goal in the 71st minute to secure their third win after back-to-back 0-0 draws.
Mt Pleasant FA came from a goal down to beat Chapelton Maroons 3-1 at Drax Hall to move two places up in the points table to ninth position as the Clarendon team lost a third consecutive game, extending their winless run to five games.
Zhaine Pinnock gave Chapelton the lead after just nine minutes but the home team was 2-1 up by the 35th minute with two goals in a five-minute span from Claver Nugent and Raheem Edwards. Demario Phillips extended the lead to two goals when he scored in the 89th minute.
Tivoli Gardens weathered an early goal from Harbour View to come from behind to win 2-1, snapping a four-game run without a win.
Rohan Brown shot Harbour View into the lead in only three minutes; Rodico Wellington pulled Tivoli Gardens level when he scored in the 28th minute before Barrington Pryce got the winning goal in the 75th minute.
At the STETHS Sports Complex, Jahiem Harris wasted an opportunity to give Treasure Beach the lead when his penalty kick was saved by the Waterhouse FC goalkeeper.
Waterhouse missed two chances to take the lead – Martin Davis hitting the base of the left upright and Andre Fletcher’s spot kick coming back off the cross bar.