Promoted team Molynes United Football Club maintained their perfect start in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) with a 1-0 win over Dunbeholden FC at Royal Lakes Complex in St Catherine yesterday.

Orane Ferguson’s 33rd-minute strike proved the difference between the teams in a hard-fought contest that saw referee Doyen Tummins issuing seven yellow cards.

The win pushed Molynes United up to maximum 15 points from five games, as they extend their lead atop the standings to five ahead of Waterhouse, who are away for quarter-final action in the Scotiabank Concacaf Club Championship. Dunbeholden slipped to sixth on six points.

Meanwhile, champions Portmore United made a huge leap from the relegation zone into seventh on six points, following a 2-0 win over Humble Lion, who have slipped to fourth on six points.

Harbour View now occupy third position on seven points after their 1-1 stalemate with Mount Pleasant Football Academy, who inched up to fifth on six points.

Arnett Gardens edged Mount Pleasant Football Academy 2-1 at Drax Hall to move to seven points, while the hosts remained on five points.

At Royal Lakes, the early exchanges left little to be desired as the physicality of both teams consistently coming together at that point made it more of a wrestling match instead of a football encounter.

However, after settling down, both teams fired a few warning shots, some speculative, others ensuring that the goaltenders were kept on their toes.

Molynes United gained the ascendancy on the half-hour mark and looked the better of the teams, as they were fluid in transition, knocking the ball around in a good passage of play that forced Dunbeholden into a defensive posture.

They inevitably broke the deadlock when a throw-in deep inside Dunbeholden’s quarters picked out Jeremy Nelson, who turned his marker well and played a pass across the face of goal for the on-rushing Ferguson to tap in at the far post.

Molynes United could have extended their lead in the latter stages of the half when Fakibi Farquharson played a delightful pass from the back to Ryan Brown, who had a clear path to goal.

However, goalkeeper Giovanni Smith narrowed the angle on Brown, who eventually got the shot off, which Smith threw his gloves at after advancing way outside his 18-yard area.

The resulting free kick amounted to nothing and the score remained 1-0 at the interval.

While Molynes United had their fair share of chances on the resumption, the momentum shifted significantly in Dunbeholden’s favour and the hosts, like a pack of hungry wolves, camped out in their opponents’ quarters.

But despite throwing their full weight in attack and applying consistent pressure, Dunbeholden never had any real bite as chance after chance went abegging.

When they eventually got the ball in the back of the net in the 90th minute, it was ruled offside.

A blistering run from Atapharoy Bygrave followed on the stroke of full time which saw him going down inside the area after a defender lunged at the ball, but the appeals for a penalty were ignored by referee Doyen Tummins, leaving Royal Lakes fans heartbroken.

Teams:

Dunbeholden FC — Giovanni Smith, Shaquille Dyer, Kevin Reid (Kemo Gayle 39th), Saneekie Burton, Shevan James, Atapharoy Bygrave, Deanandre Thomas, Richard Anderson (Rodave Murray 57th), Kemoy Cacarruthers (Andre McFarlane 46th), Demario Phillips, Andre Dyce

Subs not used: Eric Edwards, Maurice Mais, Shaquille Jones, Anthony Thompson

Booked: Dyce (23rd), James (30th), Anderson (36th), Smith (45th+1)

Molynes United — Leon Taylor, Sergeni Frakson, Kemar Seivwright, Keith Wright (Andrew Peddlar 23rd), Damion Thomas, Tyrique Wilson, Patrick Shecklude, Jeremy Nelson, Fakibi Farquharson, Orane Ferguson (Tajhe Dixon 76th), Ryan Brown (Devon Hodges 62nd)

Subs not used: Bobiander Evans, Troy Reid, Akeem Stewart, Renaldo Smith

Booked: Wilson (9th), Nelson (11th), Brown (29th)

Referee: Doyen Tummins

Assistant referees: Jassett Kerr, Ricton Archer

Fourth official: Kevin Morrison

Match commissary: Beverley Melbourne