HAVING secured their first objective of qualifying for the play-offs in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Montego Bay United (MBU) Head Coach Xavier Gilbert says their next target is a top two finish at the end of the regular season.

MBU, the JPL leaders, hammered last-placed Spanish Town Police 6-0 at Jarrett Park on Sunday, with Deonjay Brown scoring twice as they swept their last three games to move to 65 points.

“For sure that’s the first hurdle, to make it to the play-offs, and then again, we still have another objective in terms of finishing in the top two so we can get a little break. And we’re still on course for that,” Gilbert said after the game.

Also on Sunday, Mount Pleasant slipped five points behind the leaders, with six games to play, after a surprise 1-0 loss to Tivoli Gardens. Racing United, who lost 1-0 to Waterhouse, and Portmore United, who beat Molynes United 1-0, are tied in third place on 55 points. Waterhouse are fifth on 53 points while defending champions Cavalier are sixth with 48 points after a 4-1 win over Chapelton Maroons.

At Jarrett Park, Gilbert said the game only appeared easy because of his team’s execution.

“We made it easy, to be honest. It’s not easy, but we made it look that way,” he said. “I thought we did some good things today, and scoring early pushed them back a little. We just managed proceedings from there, and the players who came in gave us an opportunity to rest some players and look at others, and it worked for us.”

After winning their previous two games — including a first-ever win over Mount Pleasant — Sunday’s loss was a bitter one for Wolrey Wolfe, who was in charge.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a game, and to lose this way is very embarrassing and a big setback as well,” he said, noting that it will be an uphill task to retain their place in the league next season.

“We are just going to try as hard as we can until the last game. We have to try and win as many of those six games as possible, and we have to approach them in a positive way.”

He said the breakdown stemed from poor execution of instructions.

“Simple: They didn’t follow instructions today,” Gilbert said. “Players just didn’t follow simple instructions, and it cost us the game embarrassingly.”

MBU took control early, dictating the pace and going ahead in the 15th minute when Lucas Lima curled a shot past goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel at his left post.

Brian Brown doubled the lead in the 31st minute, converting from the penalty spot after Deonjay Brown was fouled inside the 18-yard box.

Deonjay Brown made it 3-0 just before the half-time break, then added his second and MBU’s fourth in the 49th minute.

Substitute Kegan Caull scored his first goal for the club in the 68th minute, and Jahmari Clarke rounded out the scoring in the 85th minute.

MBU’s closest pursuers both lost ground. Tkiven Garnett’s added-time goal gave Tivoli Gardens a 1-0 win over Mount Pleasant, while Javane Bryan scored in the 90th minute to give Waterhouse a 1-0 win over Racing United.

An own goal late in the first half gave Portmore United a 1-0 win over Molynes United, moving them level on points with Racing United, separated only by goal difference.

Cavalier, who have alternated between wins and losses in their last four games, scored a convincing win over Chapelton Maroons and were gifted the lead in the 27th minute when Osani Ricketts scored an own goal.

Jason Wright equalised for Chapelton in the 29th minute, but Akil Henry restored Cavalier’s lead in the 38th minute.

Adrian Reid came off the bench to score Cavalier’s third in the 56th minute while another substitute, Kimarly Scott, added a fourth in the 86th minute.

Dunbeholden FC moved up to seventh after a 2-1 win over Arnett Gardens, in a game during whwich all three goals came in the final 15 minutes.

Shakeem Powell gave Dunbeholden the lead in the 75th minute, and Clive Wedderburn added a second in the 82nd. Fabian Reid scored in added time for Arnett Gardens.

At the foot of the table, Harbour View moved past Treasure Beach into 11th place after beating them 2-1.

Habbie Mohammed gave Harbour View the lead in the fifth minute but Shanoy Smith equalised in the 13th before Trayvone Reid scored the winner in the 83rd minute.