Paul Reid | Jamaica Observer
There were joyous scenes at WesPow Park yesterday as the home team Montego Bay United (MBU) beat defending champions Harbour View 1-0 in their second-leg semi-finals for a 3-2 aggregate victory and a place in the final of the Red Stripe Premier League.
Montego Bay United will now await the winner of the Waterhouse-Arnett Gardens semi-final decider at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex today.
Meanwhile, Harbour View paid dearly for giving up an early 2-0 lead in the first leg played at Compound on Wednesday when they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Harbour View were outplayed by a fitter Montego Bay United yesterday under a hot mid-afternoon sun.
Though Montego Bay United dominated the game, it was Dino Williams’ 23rd minute goal that made the difference as both teams wasted good scoring chances throughout.
Dr Dean Weatherly, the third man to guide Montego Bay United this season, told reporters after the game they were “never really threated at any time by Harbour View”.
Weatherly, who had the team for most of last year but had to take over in the latter part of the season from Pastor Hugh Solomon who had replaced Donovan Duckie, said he thought his players’ superior fitness made the difference.
“We were fitter than them and playing them in the hot sun gave us the advantage,” he noted.
Weatherly also said the speed they used down both flanks, with Allan Ottey on the left and Lesly St Fleur on the right, also disrupted the Harbour View game plan.
While Andrew Hinds, the Harbour View coach, did not have much to say to the media, Vin Blaine, who was assisting on the bench, admitted his team was second best on the day.
“The MBU team outplayed us today (yesterday)… we gave up a soft, soft, soft goal and that was that,” he lamented.
The goal came from a brilliant move involving three MBU players inside the Harbour View area which left their defenders flat-footed and goalkeeper Levor Williams exposed.
Midfielder Keniel Kirlew sent Ottey down the left with a pinpoint pass and the speedy winger took the ball down the flank before crossing to Williams, who got in front of a defender before kicking past his namesake at the near left post.
Minutes earlier, the MBU team had missed two good chances — Williams kicking wide after a mistake from Harbour View defender Christopher Harvey sent him through and St Fleur’s shot came back off the custodian’s chest in the 21st minute.
Williams missed a second goal for MBU in the 27th minute when he shot wide at the near right post.
Harbour View took over the game for a period in the second half and their best chance was a savage drive from John Ross Edwards in the 60th minute from about 25 yards, but that ball was defended when St Fleur headed over the crossbar with his goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett out of position.
MBU just failed to double the score in the 67th when a clearance from John Barrett deep in his own half seemed headed for the goal, but the Harbour View goalkeeper got back in time to tip it over the crossbar for a corner.
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Paul Clarke | Jamaica Gleaner
Montego Bay United (MBU) stopped Harbour View FC 1-0 in their second-leg semi-final match at Wespow Park yesterday to advance to the final of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).
Dino Williams scored the winner in the 38th minute as MBU emerged 3-2 winners on aggregate after the first leg ended 2-2. Williams collected a beautiful pass from winger Alan Ottey before steering the ball past Levor Williams in goal for the visitors.
Dean Weatherley, the man in charge at MBU, praised his players for some outstanding work, telling The Gleaner that the plan to run them into the ground with pace worked like a charm.
“We were fitter than they were and at this time of the day, we knew the heat would bring the game into our favour.
“Reaching the final is something great not just for MBU but for western Jamaica. It’s been a long time something such as this has not happened to us, so now, we’re gonna go into that final and make the best use of it,” reasoned Weatherley.
It was the kind of display from the MBU that fans have come to love: free-attacking football laced with strong defending.
Missed opportunity
But the goal should have come earlier as Williams’ effort from inside the area drifted off target in the 36th minute with the home side pressing the contest.
He then made amends with a neat finish at the near post two minutes later. By half-time, it was clear that Harbour View would have to combat the heat, the MBU players and the raucous home crowd.
They almost levelled the score when John-Ross Edwards fired at goal, but watched in disbelief as Lesly St Fleur headed off the line to keep their slender lead in tact in the 60th minute as the movement of goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett was hampered by cramps.
Eight minutes later, it was Harbour View’s time to deny the now buoyed MBU another goal. Their goalkeeper was called upon to save a dipping long-range effort from defender John Barrett.
MBU, however, held on for the famous win that sent them to their first final since they last won the title under the Seba United name 17 years ago.
“This is just a wonderful day for us, because as a club, we have been striving to get back to the place where we are genuine title contenders, and now, we have a chance to win a third title. It could not be any better,” said Weatherly, who took over the coaching reigns after Hugh Solomon vacated the post for personal reasons.
“MBU were always a step quicker to the ball,” said Harbour View General Manager Clyde Jureidini.
“I don’t think we created enough chances and the one goal from Dino Williams was good enough to earn them the win. Congratulations to them,” he said.
The second leg of the Arnett Gardens versus Waterhouse semi-final will be played tonight at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. The teams drew the first leg 3-3. Kick-off time is 8.30 p.m.