MONTEGO Bay United (MBU) tasted defeat for the first time in this season’s Jamaica Premier League after they were upset by 10-man Humble Lions in their rescheduled first-round game played at WesPow Park in Tucker, St James, yesterday.

Roshane Sharp’s first-half goal was the difference between the teams in a game that failed to produce consistent quality football and which ended in controversy after Referee Odette Hamilton overturned her own decision to award a penalty to Montego Bay United in time added.

Meanwhile in other early games yesterday, defending champions Harbour View spanked newcomers Faulkland FC 6-1, with Timar Lewis scoring a first-half hat-trick while Mount Pleasant edged Cavalier FC 1-0.

Humble Lions, who were winning for the second time this season, played with 10 men from the 43rd minute following Afiba Chambers being sent off after picking up his second yellow card in less than 10 minutes.

The loss ended Montego Bay United’s four-game unbeaten start and three-game win streak but Coach Donovan Duckie told the Jamaica Observer he was not surprised, and they should learn from the results.

“Yes the team was flat and this normally happens, especially with players that are not at a certain level professionally,” he said. “The psychology was crucial. After the high against Arnett Gardens, I expected it. The reaction in training wasn’t good and we did everything as a coaching staff to lift them.”

Montego Bay United had scored two late goals in the previous game, to come from a goal down and beat Arnett Gardens, and Duckie said, “It’s the first loss, and at times it’s a loss that we can take a lot from as the mental is important. We don’t want to be the team that is so proud not to do any work; we want to be the humble Mobay. So, it’s good for us to come back to ground and to stay grounded, then we can continue to work.”

O’Neil Thompson, the Humble Lions coach, was happy for the win.

“Its always good to get three points from Mobay, which is very hard to beat,” Thompson told the Observer. “They are a well-coached team but I was proud of my team as we had to play a long time with 10 men; it is a good sign of the work that we do on a daily basis.

“Sometimes it is not about the high standards of the game but the work ethic and hard work is also a skill — and we utilised that hard work. We were organised, we knew Mobay had a lot of speed, so we closed down the channels.”

The lone goal came in the 24th minute as the MBU defence shut off momentarily when the ball appeared to be going out on the left side of the goal, but Lorenzo Lewin got to the ball and crossed it on to the crossbar. It fell nicely to Sharpe at the far post and he only had to tap it in from about a yard out.

Kemar Mullings, who had replaced Sharpe in the 83rd minute, almost doubled the Humble Lions lead but his shot from the top of the 18-yard box was inches over the MBU crossbar in the 86th minute.

Allan Ottey, a second-half substitute for MBU, missed a chance to score from close range when Humble Lions goalkeeper Prince-Daniel Smith dropped a ball in his own six-yard box but behind the former national striker, and the ball was eventually cleared.

There was some controversy late as Humble Lions’ Lewin appeared to block a shot inside his own 18-yard area, and after consulting with her assistant, Hamilton pointed to the spot but reversed the decision afterwards.

MBU’s Keimo Dyer was red-carded minutes after the final whistle while Duckie was also cautioned.

Montego Bay United

Davonnie Burton, Nevaun Turner, Renaldo Wellington, Tavin Shaw (Keimo Dyer-60th), Kevin Graham, Johann Weatherly, Rasheed Brown, Leonardo Fogarthy (Allen Ottey-46th), Deverow McKenzie, Renardo Wellington (Nazime Grant-46th), Courtney Allen Donovan Brown-53rd)

Subs not used: Peter Sinclair, Denari Watson, Fabian Forbes, Vialley Matolola, Xavier Lamonth

Booked: Ottey-71st, Brown-78th,

Dismissed: Dyer 90+10 minutes

Humble Lions

Ricko Edwards, Kimarley Fray (Gregory Lewis-46th), Shamari Dallas, Javon Smith, Lorenzo Lewin, Andrew Vanzie, Roshane Sharpe (Kear Mullings-83rd), Rayland Paisley (Suejay Graham-75th), Prince-Daniel Smith, Nathan Thomas, Afiba Chambers

Subs not used: Fabian Pascoe, Shamal Briscoe, Keyshawn Smalling, Jermaine Christian

Booked: Chambers-35, Smith-35th

Dismissed: Chambers-43rd

Referee: Odette Hamilton

Assistants: Ojay Duhaney, Garvin Carvalho

Fourth official: Romaine McKnight

Match commissary: Gavin McNeil