JAVIER Ainstein, the head coach of Montego Bay United (MBU), is asking for patience after his team gave up a first-half lead and lost 2-1 to Mount Pleasant FA in their Legend Jamaica Premier League first round game played at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

Warner Brown opened his account with a brace — both goals coming from mistakes by the MBU defence, as they came from behind after Dwight Merrick had given the St James team the lead in the first half.

It was MBU’s first loss of the season and the second straight game they had given up a lead.

The results sent them crashing from the top of the table, down to fourth place on 14 points, same as third placed Tru-Juice FC with Racing United leading the way with 16 points, one more than Waterhouse FC.

Mt Pleasant, who are unbeaten in three games, are in ninth place on seven points, a point behind Arnett Gardens, who beat Molynes United 4-1 in the opening game of the double header.

Ainstein told the Jamaica Observer he was not pleased with the result and pleaded for patience as he said they were playing without several starters, who were out with injuries.

“We were upset and disappointed as we know we could have won the game and led for a long time but we are on the correct path,” he said, adding, “I understand if others think different.”

The Argentine said so far in the young season he thought they were figuring things out, but admitted there were some concerns.

“We have been playing well from the back and I am proud of how the team has been playing… We are not finishing the games,” said Ainstein, who also noted that the forced substitution of central defender Zerguinho Deiro had a big part to play in their loss.

“It is impossible to win all games when we don’t have our best players but so far we are satisfied that we are able to control the games for long periods,” he said pointing out that his team was completing between 300 to 400 passes each game.

“The players are growing in possession and passing skills.” Merrick gave MBU the lead when he fired low and hard from the left side of the Mt Pleasant penalty area, under the body of goalkeeper Shaquan Davis in the 25th minute for his third goal of the season.

Mt Pleasant drew level in the 62nd minute when MBU’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett left his line to challenge Brown at the top of the 18-yards box but fumbled the ball, giving the striker time to fire into the far corner.

Brown took full advantage of another mistake seven minutes later, beating Barclett from close range to take all three points.

In the first game of the double header, Arnett Gardens took the lead in sixth minute when Giovanni Taylor scored his first of the game and they were up 2-0 in the 26th minute when Joel Jones added another with a header.

Rushike Kelson scored Arnett’s third goal in the 54th minute before Daniel Clarke pulled a goal back for Molynes in the 55th minute.

Taylor, however, restored Arnett’s three-goal lead when he completed his brace in the 61st minute, taking his tally on the season to six goals.