MBU storm into end-of-round final

Allan Ottey of Montego Bay United (MBU) gets ready to square the ball to a teammate as Arnett Gardens’ Mikhail George and Ryan Powell closes in during the teams’ Premier League match on Wednesday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. MBU won 1-0.

Newly-promoted Montego Bay United stormed into the Red Stripe Premier League second end-of-round final by carving out a workmanlike 1-0 win over the Paul Davis-coached Arnett Gardens at Catherine Hall in St. James.

By virtue of the win, Montego Bay United finished with 21 second round points and will face off against Portmore United who compounded Village United’s woes by edging them 2-1 at the Ferdie  Neita Park in a late kick-off. Portmore accumulated 23 points in the round.

It was another own goal by Ryan Powell in the 62nd minute, which led to the defeat of Arnett Gardens who have now slipped to eighth spot on 29 points while Montego Bay United moved up the points’ standings to seventh spot on 31 points.

At the Catherine Hall Sports Complex it was all MBU. Kemar James showed signs of things to come when he broke free in the 3rd minute and played the ball in the path of Allan Ottey whose torrid shot kissed the bar on the way out.

Two minutes later James dribbled past two defenders and wormed his way into the box, but hesitated and was robbed. Arnett countered in the 32nd minute through Kirk Ramsay who found his way behind two defenders but his resulting shot was well held by Jacomena Barrett in the MBU goal. The half ended 0-0.

On resumption of the new half MBU stepped up the pace and peppered the Arnett Gardens defence with a series of attacks forcing them to make a hurried clearance. 

TheKingston-based team was obviously troubled by the pace of Allan Ottey who time and time again used his pace to create problems for the Arnett Gardens’ defence. The all important goal came in the 62nd minute when Omar Gordon’s persistent pressure caused Powell to kick the ball in his own goal.

Dr. Dean Weatherly, assistant coach of MBU, was elated; “We are very pleased with the win and will be going all out to win the end of round finals. Our ultimate intent is to do even better in the third round and win the title. It is not out of our reach, we have the players to do it.

In another game of interest to western fans, relegation threatened Village United suffered their 15th defeat from 22 games and remained firmly at the bottom of the 12-team league on 15 points.

Defending champions Tivoli Gardens’ resurgence continued with a close 1-0 win over Reno at the Edward Seaga Stadium courtesy of a brilliant free kick from Christopher Jackson in the 58th minute. Reno’s poor form continued with their ninth defeat as they remained in 10th spot on 21 points.

Waterhouse edged Humble Lion 1-0 in the high-profile match-up of the round and gained sole second spot on 36 points thanks to an Akeen Thenstead strike in the 49th minute. The Donovan Duckie-coached Waterhouse are five points adrift of Portmore United while Humble Lion slipped two spots to fourth on 33 points.

A Marvin Stewart strike in the 30th minute propelled home team Boys’ Town to a 1-0 win over Highgate United at Collie Smith Drive. Meanwhile, Harbour View secured yet another win blanking Sporting Central Academy 2-0 to be in fifth place on 32 points. 

crgoates@yahoo.com