Mt Pleasant FA's teenaged Jabari Howell lines up a shot in their JPL second round JPL game against Humble Lion at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday. Howell scored his first JPL goal as Mt Pleasant FA won the game 5-0. (Photos: Paul Reid)
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Mt Pleasant FA increased their lead atop the Jamaica Premier League after a close 1-0 win over nine-man Chapelton Maroons, while their closest pursuers Arnett Gardens and Montego Bay United were both held to 0-0 draws in Thursday’s set of second round games.
Mt Pleasant FC are on 61 points, nine more than second placed Arnett Gardens’ 52 points with Montego Bay United in third place on 49 points, the most they have accumulated since returning to the Premier League three years ago.
Struggling former champions Harbour View jumped all the way to 10th place after ambushing defending champions Cavalier FC 1-0 in their game.
It took a 90th minute penalty from Nicholas Nelson to give Mt Pleasant FA their first win over Chapelton Maroons this season after they drew their first game 1-1.
Chapelton Maroons’ Gawain Austin was sent off in the 30th minute and Nathaniel Howe a minute into time added in the second half.
Arnett Gardens ended a four- game winning run after they were held goalless at home by fourth-placed Portmore United.
Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis’ stint at Montego Bay United started off on a sluggish note as they were held 0-0 by Racing United who extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Harbour View
are unbeaten against defending champions Cavalier FC this season, beating them 1-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Complex on Thursday after drawing 0-0 with them in the first round.
Garth Stewart scored the winner as early as the fifth minute for Harbour View to get their sixth win of the season and moved clear of the relegation zone.
Despite playing with 10 men from the 53rd minute Tivoli Gardens beat Vere United 2-1, ending a six-game win-less run and moved into seventh place ahead of Racing United on goal-difference, both on 31 points.
Tivoli Gardens who were coming off a loss away to Montego Bay United, raced to an early 2-0 lead at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex with goals from Janoi Williams in the fifth minute and Tkiven Garnett in the eighth minute.
Tyreek Magee pulled a goal back for Vere United when he scored in the 21st minute.
Garnett was red-carded in the 53rd minute but Tivoli held on for the win.
Last placed Humble Lion won for the first time in eight games, edging a fading Waterhouse FC 2-1 at Effortville Community Centre, thanks to a double from Stephen Barnett.
Barnett gave Humble Lion the lead in the 17th minute but Dyllan Johnson equalised for Waterhouse FC in the 40th minute. Barnett later returned to score the winner in the 74th minute.