MoBay United hammer Waterhouse 4-0 - Cavalier overcome ‘tricky’ Treasure Beach at STETHS

Leaders Montego Bay United silenced Drewsland Mini Stadium with a 4-0 hammer blow to homesters Waterhouse FC in their night-time Jamaica Premier League football match on Sunday.

Drewsland is normally quite vibrant on match days, when the vociferous and massive Waterhouse FC faithful get behind their team. But the St James team knocked their wind from their sails with Timar Lewis' opening goal at the 11th minute. However, the real damage was done in a 16-minute second-half blitz, beginning with Kimani Arbouine's 67th-minute goal. Then Brian Brown scored at the 74th and Malachi Sterling rounded out the scoring at the 83rd minute.

MoBay United, on 54, opened a five-point gap on Mount Pleasant Football Academy, who leapt two spots after beating Molynes United 2-0 with a double from Jabarie Howell. Molynes remain 12th on 25 points.

Third-place Racing United, on 48, will tackle Arnett Gardens (eighth on 32) in this round's Monday Night game, at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

TIGHTLY CONTESTED

Meanwhile, defending champions Cavalier SC edged Treasure Beach FC 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter at St Elizabeth Technical High School Sports Complex yesterday.

The win pushed Cavalier to sixth in the standings with 42 points, while Treasure Beach remain in 11th place with 27 points.

In a lacklustre clash, Romarion Thomas made the only shot attempt at goal to score in the 66th minute and give Cavalier the edge.

The defending champions relied on solid defending, and patience whenever they had possession, to secure the decisive goal and all three points in the fixture.

The narrow victory ensured Cavalier continued their strong title defence, as they secured yet another favourable result, in a disciplined performance against a determined Treasure Beach team.

David Laylor, assistant coach of Cavalier, attributed the win to persistent effort and strategic play against the unpredictable Treasure Beach team.

"Treasure Beach is a tricky team to play against. They're a hard running team that will surprise any team, and any team that believes they are the big team, Treasure Beach is the team to surprise them. When we're playing against them, we never take them slight," said Laylor.

"We knew that we had to play disciplined also, so I guess in playing that way, we just came up with the win," Laylor added, noting the team kept pressing and plugging.

NEED IMPROVEMENTS

Kemar Ricketts, coach of Treasure Beach, acknowledged the need for improvements, particularly in the final third where better combinations, and luck, were lacking.

"I think in certain phases we weren't good enough, especially in the final phase. In the below phase, we were doing well to the mid part of the pitch," said Ricketts

"We needed a bit more combinations, a little more luck. We didn't have it today. We have to get back to training, and do some work and get ready for next game," added Ricketts.

"I don't think we should have conceded a goal (that early), we need to defend better. But we will get it right moving forward," added Ricketts.

Treasure Beach ended the game with zero shot attempts and five corners.

Chapelton Maroons moved up to seventh on 35 points after defeating Dunbeholden 2-0. The latter stayed ninth, on 32, one more than Tivoli Gardens, who drew goalless with last-place Spanish Town Police (19).

Also deeply mired in relegation struggles are second-from-bottom Harbour View (21), who were thumped 4-2 by Portmore United. Portmore remain fourth on 47 points.