ST JAMES, Jamaica — Montego Bay United secured a crucial 3-1 victory over defending champions Cavalier SC in the third round of the Jamaica Premier League on Sunday, a result Head Coach Xavier Gilbert described as “massive” after their lead at the top had been cut to three points.

The win marked a strong response from Montego Bay United, who were coming off a 3-1 loss to Chapelton Maroons and a 1-1 draw against Molynes United on Wednesday.

Despite racing into a 3-0 lead, the team had to withstand late pressure from the defending champions in a frantic final 10 minutes. MBU went from just missing a 4-0 lead when they had a penalty saved, gave up a goal to cut the deficit to two goals and then had to save a penalty to prevent Cavalier from cutting further into the lead.

“These are the games we have to win, we are at the business end of the season and every game is going to be competitive,” Gilbert said.

Describing the team’s performance as “gutsy”, he added: “It is not the best performance in terms of how we controlled the tempo of the game…I thought there were a couple of times when we were a little bit scrappy but what was important is the three points and that was what we needed today to help us build back confidence and momentum.”

With their third straight loss, Cavalier SC’s hold third place is tenuous as they lead Chapelton Maroons only on goal-difference, both on 42 points. David Laylor, who was calling the shots on the Cavalier bench admitted, “You don’t want to lose a game like this, we lost concentration and that led to the three goals.”

He said the players could have been “a little jaded as we have been using basically the same players and they will need to recover and we just need to reassess and adjust as we go along”.

Deonjay Brown opened the scoring early when he got a pinpoint cross from the right side, controlled the ball, turned and fired past the Cavalier goalkeeper Demelcio Fer.

MBU doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half when Richardo Ramsey was sent through down the middle of the Cavalier defence and took his time before lobbing the ball over the advancing Fer.

MBU were sailing along nicely when Jahmari Clarke, who came off the bench in the 72nd minute to replace Ramsey, scored two minutes later after he bulled his way past two defenders to fire home from close range.

Malachi Sterling, who had scored in the previous three games, should have made it 4-0 but Fer, who had made a series of very good saves earlier, blocked the penalty kick.

Cavalier countered brilliantly and Adrian Reid beat goalkeeper Davonnie Burton into his far right corner with a shot from outside the 18-yard box to make the score 3-1 three minutes into time added.

Cavalier SC’s goalkeeper Demelcio Fer saves a penalty from MBU’s Malachi Sterling in Sunday’s third round JPL game played at Jarrett Park. MBU won the game 3-1.

The champions could have made the finish even closer when they were awarded a penalty but Burton came up big with a save of his own, denying Christopher Ainsworth.

Meanwhile, Portmore United wasted another chance to move up in the tables when they were beaten 2-1 by Dunbeholden FC, who got goals from Ricardo Beckford in the sixth minute and Shakeem Powell in the 50th.

Tarick Ximines pulled a goal back for Portmore United in the 82nd minute. Rodico Wellington scored a hat-trick for Tivoli Gardens, who came from two goals down against Harbour View after 26 minutes to win 3-2 at the Edward Seaga Complex.

Rohan Brown had scored both goals for Harbour View, in the ninth and 26th minutes but Wellington hit back with a first-half brace of his own, scoring in the 33rd and 35th minutes before completing his hat-trick in the 61st minute.

Molynes United also came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Chapelton Maroons at Turner Field.

Denzel McKenzie in the 27th minute and Sean Leighton in the 44th gave Chapelton the lead at halftime but Nicholas Nelson scored a second-half brace with goals in the 53rd and 67th minutes to snatch a point.

Sunday results:

Tivoli Gardens FC — 3, Harbour View — 2

Chapelton Maroons — 2, Molynes United — 2

Montego Bay United — 3, Cavalier SC — 1

Dunbeholden FC — 2, Portmore United — 1

Monday games:

Racing United vs Treasure Beach — Anthony Spaulding Complex at 5:00 pm

Waterhouse FC vs Spanish Town Police — Drewsland at 6:00 pm

Arnett Gardens FC vs Mt Pleasant FA — Anthony Spaulding Complex at 7:30 pm