‘We are hunting for points’ - Green brace lifts Mount Pleasant past Molynes

Mount Pleasant captain Daniel Green led from the front with a brace as his team defeated 10-man Molynes United 2-1 in the first game of Monday night’s double-header at Waterhouse Stadium.

The victory continued Mount Pleasant’s recovery from a slow start to the Legend Jamaica Premier League (LJPL) season.

After losing their first two matches and winning just one of their opening four games, the former champions have now recorded three victories in their last four outings and climbed three places to seventh in the standings with 10 points from six matches.

Man-of-the-match Green said Mount Pleasant are focused on collecting points as they look to move further up the table.

“We need points. We are hunting for points right now. So we are okay with that (win),” he said.

“It’s a great feeling (scoring twice). It’s always a great feeling scoring goals. So I am appreciative.”

Molynes made a competitive start and threatened through early efforts from Tyrique Wilson and Marlon Pennycooke.

However, after the opening 10 minutes, the St Ann-based outfit took control and created a number of scoring opportunities. Warner Brown thought he had given Mount Pleasant the lead in the 12th minute, but his effort, which came off his shoulder, was ruled out for handball.

Minutes later, Green was fortuitously gifted possession after going down in the box. He reacted quickest to a poor clearance and fired past goalkeeper Jason Belfon to open the scoring.

Mount Pleasant continued to press, with Nickalia Fuller, Travonne Reid, Kimoni Bailey and Demario Phillips all getting good looks at goal.

The former champions carried that momentum into the second half, with Bailey striking the post from a corner three minutes after the restart.

Pennycooke then spurned two excellent opportunities for Molynes, failing to test goalkeeper Shaquan Davis on either occasion.

In the 57th minute, Brown turned his marker inside the box, but his shot was saved by Belfon. Seconds later, Green shrugged off two challenges before tucking the ball under the advancing goalkeeper for his second goal of the night.

Molynes reduced the deficit when Shevon Miller pounced on a loose ball and fired home from six yards out.

The goal sparked the visitors into life, and they created a couple of promising chances in the final 10 minutes but failed to hit the target.

Miller’s night ended on a sour note when he was shown a red card in added time for retaliating against Davis.

Mount Pleasant coach Theodore Whitmore said that while his team achieved its primary objective, it failed to make full use of its possession.

“Objective number one was winning the game and we did that, but we didn’t utilise the space and we didn’t play behind them. So it was easy for them,” he said.

Molynes coach Jermaine Thomas praised his players for their response after a disappointing first half.

“We started a bit flat, but we got it right in the second half. We created some good ones and never took them, but the effort from the guys was really different. They showed character and guts,” he said.

Molynes remain 12th in the standings on six points.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com