MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — After losing in the Jamaica Premier League for the first time this season, Racing United Head Coach Anthony Patrick says the team will have to consistently execute with much greater intensity as they seek a play-off spot.

Racing went down 1-3 to Montego Bay United in the top-of-the-table clash at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday.

Montego Bay’s Jourdain Fletcher, in the 34th and 45th minute, used his goal-poaching instincts to grab a double, his second in a row and third of the season to push his league-leading tally to seven.

Fletcher was denied a hat-trick when his penalty kick midway the second half was ruled out because he was deemed to have made an inadvertent second contact with the football.

Racing United got their first goal against Montego Bay United in four games when Jimoy Jones scored in the 52nd minute. His effort was atonement for giving up an own goal which gave the home team the lead in the 31st minute.

The victory boosted Montego Bay United to 22 from nine games. They are followed by Racing United and Portmore United, who are both on 15 points from eight games.

Defending champions Cavalier FC are fourth on 13 points, while Waterhouse FC are next on 12, and Chapelton Maroons, who are on 10, fill out the top six places.

St Catherine-based Racing United, not among the traditional big hitters in local club football, have got off to an outstanding start to the season, winning four and drawing three of their opening seven matches.

But Racing hit the proverbial wall on Sunday when they ran into Montego Bay, currently the hottest team in the league.

Anthony Patrick, the Racing head coach, thought giving up the opening goal was a major turning point.

“We started well, but I think the own goal kind of dampened our spirit,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

He also said their approach did not match Montego Bay’s high tempo.

“We were rolling the ball and that was a big mistake [by] us [to] keep rolling the football. MoBay kept sprinting and kept pinging in the football. They were winning all the first and second balls and that pushed us on the back foot,” Patrick reasoned.

He said adjustments in the second half saw them regain some foothold in the encounter.

“We switched up the system itself and we were able to take control in the midfield,” he said.

Dillon Thelwell, the Montego Bay United assistant coach, said that in the first half, in particular, the players delivered on the plans of the technical staff.

“I think the guys came out stronger, we came out with high intensity and we got three goals in the first half. We took our foot off the gas a little bit and concede a goal in the second half but I think we managed the game well. Our changes worked and we came away with the win,” Thelwell said.

An own goal from Racing defender Jones handed Montego Bay the lead before Fletcher scored two opportunistic goals, finishing off quick team moves.

He hit the ball across the goal line and was in the right spot minutes later to finish off a move from Nashordo Gibbs.

Jones made up for his earlier mistake when he scored for Racing, turning the ball home when he latched onto a rebound from a corner kick.

— Paul A Reid