Defending champions Montego Bay United took a big step towards qualifying for the semi-finals of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) after chiseling out a 1-0 win over Harbour View in their third-round game at WesPow Park yesterday.
Dino Williams’s fifth minute goal was the difference between the teams, as MBU improved to 47 points with Harbour View staying on 40.
Harbour View played most of the second half with 10 players after Kevaughn Frater was sent off in the 48th minute following a crunching tackle on Dwayne Ambusley.
It was the first win for MBU over Harbour View this season, thus ensuring that they have beaten all teams in this campaign and coach Carlos Garcia was quick to play up that achievement.
It was the first loss for Harbour View since Ludlow Bernard took over the team.
Bernard admitted the team was unfit, but pointed out they “managed to keep pace with the opponent”.
The red card so early in the second half disrupted their plans, he also said, as it killed whatever momentum they hoped to build.
Garcia was happy for the win despite several missed chances. “This is a big step towards the semi-finals,” he said.
Three games in a week, including a practice against the Cayman Islands national team, he said, had left them physically and mentally tired.
The home team jumped in the lead early when Williams got behind the defence and finished off a move down the left, firing into the far corner.
They created several other chances, but Ambusley was blocked at the left post in the 12th minute and in the 21st Williams was stopped inside the 18-yard box by Frater.
Allan Ottey was sent through in the 31st minute, but shot high, and in the 42nd minute Williams beat the last defender but goalkeeper Michaud Barrett came off his line to block the shot.
Harbour View’s best chance came in the 35th minute, but goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett blocked McKauley Tulloch’s low, hard shot at his left post. Followed up by two other good shots on target by the striker and equally good saves in a matter of minutes.
MBU continued to dominate in the second half against a tired Harbour View, but Ottey and Williams missed easy scoring chances.
Teams: MONTEGO BAY UNITED — Jacomeno Barrett, Winston Wilkinson, Ladale Richie, Keneil Kirlew, Allan Ottey (Cornelius Henry 75th), Dwayne Ambusley, Orlando McBayne (Omar Gordon 68th), Lesley St Fleur, Dino Williams, Leon Irving (Ronaldo Rodney 46th), Dwayne Holmes
Subs not used: David Swaby, John Barrett, Kashief Brown, Jerome Haughton
Booked: Holmes (20th), Irving (27th), Gordon (90th+3)
HARBOUR VIEW — Michaud Barrett, Dejanni Isaacs, Christopher Harvey, Rosario Harriot, Daminan Anderson (Stephen Barnett 83rd), Nicholas Beckett, Kevaughn Frater, John Ross Edwards, Jermaine Hue, Ranique Muir (Damion Harwood 63rd), McKaulay Tulloch (Anthony Greenland 73rd)
Subs not used: Lavor Williams, DeMarley Oliver, Mark Miller, Savian Maxwell
Booked: Tulloch (48th), Frater (ejected 47th)
Referee: Dwight Royal
Assistant Referees: Melvin Reid, Jeron Porteous
Fourth Official: Deron Davy
Match Commissary: Fitzroy Reid