TUCKER, St James — Montego Bay United (MBU) returned to the top of the points tables in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) after beating Humble Lion 3-1 in their third-round game at WesPow Park on Sunday.

In Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis’s first home game as coach of Montego Bay United, Ronaldo Rodney and Lesly St Fleur gave the home team a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes before Owayne Gordon secured the points in the 83rd minute, this after Levaughn Williams had given Humble Lion hope of at least a point when he scored in the 71st minute.

With defending champions Arnett Gardens to play on Monday night and Portmore losing to Boys’ Town, Montego Bay United’s 45 points take them two points clear at the top, while Humble Lion are stuck in fourth place on 35 points.

It was the first win for either team against each other this season after the previous two games both ended in 1-1 scorelines.

Davis, who was in charge of his second Premier League game, was thankful for the three points, but thinks his strikers need to be more direct rather than turning back when they get a chance at goal.

“We played too indisciplined, especially in the midfield, but we still held on for the win,” he told the Jamaica Observer, “We could have won the game at 2-0, but we had to bring back a defender (Cordel Simpson) off the bench to strengthen the midfield.”

Vassell Reynolds, the Humble Lion coach, rued giving up the two early goals and said after a good second half they should have taken away more than just a goal.

“It was a much improved second half, (but it’s) pity we never get more than one goal and against a good MoBay team… we were always behind the eighth ball when we concede two goals so early,” he said. “We also lost composure and did not play as we ought to.”

After being held 0-0 at Waterhouse last weekend, Montego Bay United wasted little time and were up 2-0 before most fans were seated with lightning strikes.

A smart bit of play in the 10th minute saw MoBay United take the lead as Gordon was fouled by Hugh Howell just outside the area, but referee Valdin Ledgister allowed the play to go on, and while the Humble Lion players stopped, St Fleur continued to the left touchline and crossed the ball into the penalty area where Rodney finished off the play, booting the ball into the goal.

Six minutes later it was St Fleur’s turn to finish off the plan after Gordon’s cross from the right side found the short Bahamian and he made no mistake, getting his first goal of the season.

Humble Lion could have pulled a goal back in time added on in the first half as Montego Bay United goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett appeared to have lost concentration, a cross falling from his grasp at the feet of a Humble Lion player. The big goalkeeper recovered quickly enough to block the shot.

The visitors had Montego Bay United back pedalling for most of the first 20 minutes of the second half and were rewarded when Williams latched on to a rebound and blasted it into the far corner from the left side of the goal.

Prior to this, Allan Ottey, who had replaced the injured Kemar Drake in the 28th minute, just missed giving Montego Bay United a third goal when his shot from the left side missed the far post by mere inches.

Gordon put the game out of reach of the Clarendon team in the 83rd minute when his powerful shot from just inside the area beat goalkeeper Alien Whittaker. The goalkeeper had done well to block a shot from Keniel Kirlew going to his left, but Gordon reacted quickest and got to the rebound.

Cory Hylton, who had come on in the 86th minute, just missed getting his first Premier League goal for MoBay United when he muscled his way between two defenders, but his well-placed shot to the left of the goalkeeper was well saved.

Teams:

Montego Bay United – Owayne Gordon, Lesly St Fleur ( Cory Hylton-86th), Jermaine Woozencroft, Ronaldo Rodney (Cordel Simposn-74th), Dwayne Ambusley, Keniel Kirlew, Kemar Drake (Allen Ottey- 29th), Orlando McBayne, John Barrett, Ladale Richie, Jacomeno Barrett.

Subs not used: Romaine Bowers, Nicodie Haughton, Johann Weatherly, Romario Clarke

Booked: McBayne (4th), Kirlew (43rd)

Humble Lion – Alien Whittaker, Ricardo Cousins, Francois Swaby (Alex Bennett-87th), Lynval Lewis, Hugh Howell, Gregory Lewis, Fabian Pascoe (Dwight Campbell-74th), Andrew Vanzie, Wolry Wolfe, Michael Moreland (Kevaghn Isaacs-56th), Levaughn Williams.

Subs not used: Sanchez Lloyd, Kirk Duckworth, Kevon Reid, Horace Sharpe

Booked: Lewis (41st), Howell (68th)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Richard Washington, Jerion Porteous

Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard

Match Commissary: Devon Maxwell