Slow starters Portmore clipped by Mount Pleasant
Portmore United coach, Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, said despite a slow start against Mount Pleasant in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match at the UWI/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday, his team deserved something from the game.
Low-scoring Mount Pleasant defeated the league leaders 1-0 on Kemar Beckford’s 40th-minute goal. However, Portmore remain atop the standings on 13 points after seven matches, while Mount Pleasant climbed to third with 11 points from six games. The St Ann-based Mount Pleasant have scored just five goals in their six games.
Gardener said his team’s first-half display was below par but their second- half performance deserved at least a point.
“The first half didn’t go too well and we could have done better with the goal that we conceded. We didn’t defend well, we didn’t execute and we could have moved the ball a little quicker, especially when breaking the lines from the back into our midfield.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
“We will have to go back to the drawing board and ensure that this is not repeated,” he said.
“But I must commend them (players) for their secondhalf performance. It was just unfortunate we didn’t get something from the game. The way we went out and executed the second half and played the game how we wanted to play, a point would have been rewarding,” he stated.
Portmore were slow out of the blocks and Mount Pleasant created numerous chances through their front three of Daniel Green, Cardel Benbow and Beckford.
However, they were not able to make the chances count until five minutes from the break when Beckford headed home a corner.
Portmore found their feet after the break and had good chances through Demar Rose and Ricardo Morris, who shot a free-kick against the bar.
Chevaney Willis also sent a free kick just wide and Omar Reid fired over from close range after his initial effort was blocked by Clarke in goal.
Portmore have now failed to win their last two games but Gardner insists the defeat is not a setback and that he expects the team to rebound very quickly.
“I am not worried especially after seeing the second half we had today. The players have the right mindset and mentality. We demand that from them so we expect everyone to come out and represent well and compete,” he added.
Mount Pleasant’s coach, Walter ‘Wally’ Downes, said it required a total team effort to get the three points against the league leaders and he thought they came close to producing a perfect match.
“It was a massive team effort and I thank everybody. It needed to be a team effort when you are playing the top team in the country, you need to be at your best and everyone was absolutely superb today,” he said. The win was Mount Pleasant’s third with a 1-0 scoreline in six matches. The have drawn two and lost the other 2-0 to Harbour View. SATURDAY’S RESULTS Tivoli Gardens 3 Harbour View 1 Molynes 1 Humble Lion 0 livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com