Dillon Thelwell, the assistant coach of 2015-16 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) champions Montego Bay United, lauded his players for shrugging off the team’s controversial pre-match protest to defeat Portmore United 2-1 in Sunday’s final.

Days leading up to the encounter, the Montego Bay club’s management publicly declared its objection to having the game begin at 4:00 pm instead of late evening. However, the organisers held firm.

On Sunday, there was indication that things were awry when the St James-based side entered the Montego Bay Sports Complex match venue less than 20 minutes ahead of game time.

And a bizarre episode accompanied Montego Bay’s arrival. Squad members went onto the field wearing T-shirts bearing individual letters which combined to spell ‘RESPECT’.

The game eventually began about 4:15 pm inside the full-to-capacity venue which is estimated to seat 8,000 persons. In the early exchanges, both teams appeared lacking in intensity.

“It may have affected the [Montego Bay] team a little bit, and we started the game a bit flat,” Thelwell, the deputy to Head Coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, admitted to the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“As coaches we tried to get the players focused and they were focused ahead of the game. But normally we don’t start flat like that. After about 15 minutes we got into our game and started playing Montego Bay United football,” the assistant coach added.

After a largely uneventful first half, Jermaine Woozencroft and substitute Dino Williams scored to sandwich a sensational goal by Portmore’s Michael Binns.

Thelwell said his team learned after losing to Portmore in all three encounters during the preliminary phase.

“Tactically we were good; the plan we set was executed well and we didn’t allow them space behind us. We lost those games in the preliminary round, but we were more disciplined at the back because we worked more at it in training,” he said.

The assistant coach said the second-half introduction of Williams — imperious in the 2013-14 championship final, but beset by injuries this season — gave Montego Bay a noticeable fillip.

“In the first half we were stronger and sharper in midfield, but we did not get things right in the final third. We sat down and talked about it at half-time and we settled down. And when Dino Williams entered the field it brought energy to the attack,” Thelwell explained.

The win put Davis, the former national goal-poacher, in illustrious company. After winning the national title with Seba United — before the club’s name was changed to Montego Bay — Davis joins a short list of people to lift the league crown as player and as head coach.

And while Montego Bay club and its supporters celebrate, organisers are set to determine the possibility of sanctions for what occurred before kick-off.

Teams: Portmore United — Shaven-Sean Paul, Damono Solomon, Ryan Wellington, Osani Ricketts, Stephen Williams, Ewan Grandison, Michael Binns, Kemar Phillpott (Maalique Foster 68th), Tramaine Stewart, Ricardo Morris, Jovan East (Rodian Jennings 68th).

Subs not used: Eric Edwards, Kemo Gayle, Upston Edwards, Roberto Johnson, Henrico Ricketts.

Booked: Phillpott (4th), Stewart (31st)

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Cory Hylton, Allan Ottey, Jermaine Woozencroft (Fabian McCarthy 83rd), Ronaldo Rodney (Dino Williams 69th), Keniel Kirlew, Dwayne Ambusley, Orlando McBayne, Lesly St Fleur, Kemar Drake, Ladale Richie.

Subs not used: David Swaby, Winston Wilkinson, Kashief Brown, Donavan Carey, Nicodie Haughton.

Booked: None

Referee: Valdin Legister

Assistant Referees: Richard Washington, Stacy-Ann Greyson

Fourth Official: Kevin Morrison

Match Commissary: James Pearson