TUCKER, St James — Montego Bay United snapped a two-game winless run when they beat Rivoli United 2-0 in their second-round Red Stripe Premier League game played at WesPow Park yesterday.

A first-half penalty conversion by Orlando McBayne and a second-half strike from Ronaldo Rodney gave Montego Bay United a well-needed win as they leapt over defending champions Arnett Gardens into second place on 41 points.

Both teams were forced to make early changes due to injuries as Montego Bay United brought on Corey Hylton in place of Allan Ottey, who appeared to have pulled up in the 28th minute, and four minutes later Daniel Roberts, who suffered a cut on his ears was replaced by Ryan Smart on the Rivoli United team.

Dillon Thelwell, the Montego Bay United coach, was pleased with the execution of the team plans, telling the

Jamaica Observer “the game plan was to use our speed players on the flanks and get behind the Rivoli defence”.

He pointed to the two goals coming from counter-attacks, evidence of the plans working.

Marlon Williams, the Rivoli coach, said his team “did not show up today, away from home, and we know the MoBay United team is not easy to beat, but we did our best”.

The first-half penalty kick, he said, knocked the fight out of his team and the players dropped their heads after that.

Montego Bay United had the early scoring chances, but Owayne Gordon missed with two free kicks from just outside the area, and the home team could have paid for their profligacies, but defender Ladale Richie blocked a shot at point-blank range after Rivoli’s Davion Alves had beaten goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett in the 40th minute.

Montego Bay United made the breakthrough when Hylton was brought down deep inside the box by Troy Moulton who was already on a yellow card and McBayne easily beat goalkeeper Marlon Henry.

Six minutes into the second half, Rodney, who had scored Montego Bay United’s goal from open play, in their 1-2 loss to Arnett Gardens last week, doubled the lead when he finished a good three-man combination.

Lesly St Fleur sped down the left flank and passed the ball to Hylton, who held it up nicely before passing to the lanky Rodney who shot it past Henry.

Hylton should have added a third when he was gifted a ball by the Rivoli defence, but with Henry at his mercy and areas of space in which to work and after slowing down to a walk, the midfielder opted for a lob which went over the cross bar.

McBay saved a goal in the 87th minute when he stuck out a boot to block a low, hard shot, while Johann Weatherly, who replaced Jermaine Woozencroft in the 84th minute, was blocked by the advancing Henry in the 88th minute.