Stewart scores hat-trick as Mt Pleasant increase JPL lead
ST ANN, Jamaica– Red-hot Trivante Stewart scored his second hat-trick of the season as Mt Pleasant Academy increased their lead at the top of the Jamaica Premier League after beating Dunbeholden FC 3-0 at Drax Hall, St Ann on Sunday.
The win boosted the St Ann team’s tally to 30 points, four more than second-placed Cavalier FC who were held 0-0 by Montego Bay United in the first game of a double-header at Jamaica College’s Ashenheim stadium.
Arnett Gardens came from behind to beat Tivoli Gardens 2-1 and stayed in third place on 24 points.
At Drax Hall, Stewart took his goals tally to 13, as he opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 40th minute, then added goals in the 50th and 55 th minutes to end Dunbeholden FC’s four-games unbeaten run.
Cavalier FC were spared back- to- back losses and had to settle for a point after MBU wasted an opportunity to get all three points after Leonardo Fogarthy’s first half penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Vino Barclett.
Cavalier also had a goal called back for offsides in the first half.
In the second game at JC, Nakeel Wright fired Tivoli Gardens into the lead in the 18th minute but Arnett Gardens clawed their way back to win their second game in a row.
Fabian Reid pulled Arnett Gardens level when he scored a stoppage time penalty before Shai Smith scored in his second straight game to end Tivoli Garden’s three- games winning run.
Vere United won their second straight game, edging Harbour View 1-0at Wembley Centre of Excellence, Lamard Neil scoring the winner for the second straight week when he netted in the second minute of the game.
In the other game, Humble Lion and Waterhouse played out a 0-0 draw.
-Paul A Reid