KINGSTON, Jamaica — Warner Brown scored a brace seven minutes into the second half of Mount Pleasant FA’s match against Montego Bay United (MBU) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday, handing MBU their first defeat of the Jamaica Premier League season.

The 2-1 victory saw Mount Pleasant extend their unbeaten record against MBU in Premier League competition while climbing to ninth place in the standings with seven points from five matches.

MBU, who entered the week at the top of the table, slipped to fourth on 14 points, behind third-placed Tru-Juice on goal difference. Racing United lead the standings with 16 points, one ahead of second-placed Waterhouse FC.

It was the second consecutive match that MBU surrendered a lead and conceded twice, despite taking the advantage through Dwight Merrick in the 25th minute. Merrick’s strike was his third goal of the campaign.

Brown sparked Mount Pleasant’s comeback in the 62nd minute, netting his first Premier League goal of the season, before completing his brace seven minutes later to secure all three points.

In the opening match of the double-header, Giovanni Taylor also scored twice as Arnett Gardens cruised to a 4-1 victory over Molynes United.

Taylor opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Joel Jones doubled Arnett’s advantage with a header in the 26th.

Rushike Kelson extended the lead to 3-0 in the 54th minute, but Molynes responded almost immediately through Daniel Clarke, who pulled a goal back a minute later.

Taylor, however, restored Arnett’s three-goal cushion in the 61st minute, completing his brace and taking his tally for the season to six goals.

The victory lifted Arnett Gardens to eighth place in the standings with eight points.

— Paul A Reid