‘I knew I was going to score’

Nicholas Nelson registered a hat-trick on his return to Molynes United to lead the team to a 3-2 win over Tivoli Gardens in the Jamaica Premier League at the Anthony Spaulding Complex yesterday.

Nelson scored in the fourth, 51st, and 54th minute to help Molynes continue their climb up the Jamaica Premier League standings, moving three places up to eighth on 20 points, two adrift of Tivoli in seventh.

Tivoli got their goals from Denville Watson (sixth) and Steve Clarke (82nd).

However, Nelson who spent last season at Mount Pleasant and the first half of this campaign at Dunbeholden, was delighted to be back on his original stomping ground, and was confident of scoring multiple goals on the night.

“Last night (Sunday) I knew I was going to score a hat-trick because I was telling my team and people outside, from Thursday, that I am going to score more than one, and I came out with a hat-trick,” he said.

Molynes coach Jermaine Thomas was also pleased to have the proven goalscorer back at the club.

“You can’t question his quality. He has been playing this league for a number of years, scoring a lot of goals, and tonight (Monday) you saw some amount of competence on the pitch. He really delivered,” he said.

The game got off to a blistering start, with Nelson firing Molynes into the lead after six minutes.

However, they didn’t have long to savour their advantage, as five minutes later Watson restored parity for the West Kingston team.

Although both teams remained competitive, it was Molynes who created the more clear-cut opportunities.

Livinton Cuesta, Marlon Pennicooke, and Tyrique Wilson all missed good chances before Tivoli asserted themselves, and Requan Stoney wasted a good chance from Steve Clarke’s cross.

Six minutes into the second half, Molynes were awarded a penalty when Barrington Pryce fouled Wilson inside the area and Nelson dispatched the resulting penalty to put Molynes 2-1 in front.

Three minutes later Nelson got his hat-trick when goalkeeper Nicholas Clarke parried Matthew Ellis’ shot into the path of the forward, who headed back past the goalkeeper.

Tivoli then went a man down — Alton Lewis seeing red after his overly aggressive remonstration with the assistant referee, for what he thought was an offside on the play leading up to the goal.

Ten-man Tivoli pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute when Clarke stabbed home a loose ball in the area.

Tivoli continued to push forward, but Watson blasted their best chance for an eqaliser over from inside the six-yard area.

“We started well. We managed to convert early, but conceded a soft one,” Thomas recounted.

“Second half, we made some changes and they worked. Playing against 10 is never easy, but we defended well and created opportunities and never took them, and the game left us right there.”

Tivoli coach Jerome Waite reiterated the need for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

“The player was in an offside position that would have given him an advantage, but we don’t have VAR. So we have to live with it,” he commented.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com