10-man Montego Bay earn point at struggling Maverley

Champions Montego Bay United, despite playing with 10 men for over 20 minutes, held Maverley-Hughenden to a 0-0 draw in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match at Constant Spring Field yesterday.

Allan Ottey was red-carded by Referee Weston Costly in the 70th minute for a nasty foul, but Montego Bay held their nerve and held on for a very good away point under the circumstances.

Montego Bay United, who halted a two-game losing skid, inched to 43 points. They are provisionally in second spot, while Maverley-Hughenden stay in the relegation zone in 11th spot on 22 points.

Playing with a man extra, Maverley failed to capitalise, and in fact came close to surrendering the lead after Owayne Gordon's header crashed onto the crossbar in the 73rd minute. Earlier, Gordon watched as his curling free kick hit the upright in the 55th minute.

But Maverley would have the final chances of the game as Jamoy Sibbles long-range effort had the out-of-position goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett scrambling, but it sailed just over the crossbar in the 89th minute.

Then substitute Narado Brown got a couple of half chances. The main one came when he collected the ball inside the box and turned onto his left foot, and was closed down in time added on. There was a sigh of relief from the Montego Bay fans when he opted not to shoot first time, and they thanked him.

But Brown's decision was not taken well by his teammates, some of whom expressed their verbal disgust.

Maverley's Coach Anthony Patrick saw his team fail to grab valuable points at home.

Definitely, I think we played a little bit tight... but in the last few minutes we started to get at them and started to play, noted Patrick.

It was very good team performance, a gutsy performance from the entire team. We switched the system and played a 4-3-3 and I think it worked wonders for us, and we are very happy for the one point, said Patrick.

Montego Bay's Coach Dillon Thelwell praised his team for their strong display, despite playing with 10 men.

I think today we showed character, fighting spirit and, as you noticed, we dominated the game right throughout even with 10 players creating chance after chance. But it was just one of those days when you fail to score and have to settle for a point, said Thelwell.

Portmore United climb into fourth spot on 40 points after clipping Jamalco FC 2-1 at Wembley Centre of Excellence. Ricardo Morris and Jermie Lynch scored for Portmore United in the 34th and 54th minutes, respectively. Captain Shauntel Mundle for the second-consecutive week replied for Jamalco in the 71st minute in a losing cause. They remain in 10th spot on 23 points.

Former champions Arnett Gardens left it very late at St Elizabeth Technical field to edge Reno 1-0, courtesy of a strike in the first minute of stoppage time from Kemal Malcolm.

It was a crucial win for Arnett Gardens as they consolidated the sixth and final play-off spot with 34 points. They move six points clear of Reno, who are seventh on 28 points.

At Drewsland, home team Waterhouse FC and the University of the West Indies (UWI) battled to a 0-0 stalemate. Despite dropping two points, UWI provisionally move to the top of the league on 43 points by virtue of scoring a greater number of goals than Montego Bay.

Today, Tivoli Gardens (42 points) could return to the top when they tackle a Harbour View outfit in eighth spot on 24 points in the 8:00 pm feature game of a double-header inside the National Stadium tonight. In the 5:30 pm curtain-raiser, bottom-placed Boys’ Town (16 points) play fifth-placed Humble Lion (39 points).

Teams:

Maverley-Hughenden — Jovel Plunkett, Kasai Hinds, Robert Williams, Jahmari Ranger, Nackwayne Parchment, Troy Moulton, Raymond Williamson, Denario Thomas (Narada Brown 83rd), Jamoly Powell (Nicholas Scott 61st), Andrew Whyte, Jamoy Sibbles.

Subs not used: George Brown, Ricardo Thomas, Andrew Peddlar, Wayne Williams, Odane Samuels.

Booked: Raymond Williamson 32nd.

Montego Bay — Jacomena Barrett, Fabian McCarthy, Ladale Richie, Donovan Carey, Orlando McBayne, Dwayne Ambusley, Keneil Kirlew, Ronaldo Rodney (Johann Weatherly 80th), Allan Ottey, Owayne Gordon, Dino Williams.

Subs not used: David Swaby, John Barrett, Michael Heaven, Paigel Brwon, Ramone Sibley.

Booked: Fabian McCarthy 35th, Ladale Richie 87th, (Red: Allan Ottey 70th).

Referee: Weston Costly

Assistant referees: Lloyd Reader, Melvin Reid

Fourth official: Tyrone Robinson

Match commissary: Ainsley Sharpe
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