Cavalier hurt rusty leaders MoBay
Published:Tuesday | December 9, 2025 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
CHAD JAMES netted a brace, his first goals for the club, as defending champions Cavalier cooled Jamaica Premier League (JPL) leaders Montego Bay United 3-0 in the early game at Stadium East yesterday.
Jerome McCleary gave Cavalier a 33rd-minute lead. And in the second half, James (57th and 72nd) was the beneficiary of two defensive blunders by the Xavier Gilbert-coached team.
“The team has been working hard over what we called a holiday break. It was just work. Trying to perfect what we had planned,” said Cavalier assistant coach David Laylor.
“We were always attacking. Always transitioning once we had the ball. So it (margin of victory) wasn’t a surprise.”
It was a cagey first half, with very few opportunities; however, Cavalier took the lead when McCleary squeezed a header through the palms of goalkeeper Demelcio Fer to put the defending champions in front.
MoBay had a couple of half-chances themselves, but on both occasions good defensive work blocked Jourdain Fletcher’s attempts to put the ball across goal after he broke inside the 18-yard box.
MoBay started the second half positively and came close through a Dwight Merrick free kick in the 56th minute.
However, Cavalier countered and James capitalised on a poor back pass to punish goalkeeper Davonnie Burton from 12 yards out.
McCleary had another great opportunity moments later but fired into the side netting from close range.
Cavalier continued to absorb MoBay’s pressure and hit them on the counter. But in the 72nd minute, MoBay were again the architects of their own downfall, as another defensive blunder gifted James his second and Cavalier’s third of the evening.
DEFENSIVE LAPSE
Cavalier almost got a fourth, from another defensive lapse, but on this occasion Burton raced back to clear Devarow McKenzie’s back pass off the line.
“When you get a gift you just accept it, and enjoy it,” Laylor stated.
“They were gifts to us, and we accepted it and did well with it.”
He also credited the double goalscorer for his contribution.
“He (James) has been doing really well in training and you have to give players their chance. Good decision for the coach to start him. He proved us right. Showed good quality and stepped up. And we got two goals from him and we’ll accept it,” he added.
MoBay’s coach, Xavier Gilbert, said he anticipated there would have been some match rust, but had hoped they were not too much off the pace.
“We were bad tonight. We have to accept that and take full responsibility. We weren’t good enough; and credit to Cavalier, they capitalised on it.
“We were a bit too negative in a lot of instances and hence we made those errors. We knew it (Hurricane Melissa) would have affected us. I said it would take three to four weeks to find back our footing, and hopefully wouldn’t be hurt by it. So we know it is going to take some time.
“But no excuses. We should have performed better,” he commented.
MoBay stayed at the top of the table with 22 points. One more than Portmore United. Racing United are third on 18 points, while Cavalier stay fourth but move to 16 points.