Mt Pleasant humbled by the Lion

Mount Pleasant coach Donovan Duckie could find no answer as his team went down to their second successive home defeat in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) losing 1-0 to bottom-of-the-table, Humble Lion at Drax Hall yesterday. Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey's side were scoring their first win in seven matches this season.

Levaughn Williams netted the game's only goal in time added on, in a game where Mount Pleasant found the opponents difficult to break down. However, when quizzed after the game about his team's poor run of results at home, Duckie thought to himself for a second before walking away without a response.

However, Bailey was delighted to finally get his first Humble Lion win and said it was a result of some strong 'soul-searching' and getting into the psyche of his players.

"We did some soul searching and it paid off. I told them I have coached less talented teams and have won competitions, and this is one of the things that this team needs, more of the psychological aspect of the game. The talent is here and I just had to get in their heads. I got into their heads today, so of course I am delighted. The monkey is finally off the back," he said.

In a game of few chances, Mount Pleasant struggled to penetrate the Humble Lion defence, but they came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but Kemar Beckford's shot was saved by Damion Crooks in goal. Then late in the second half, Kevin Graham struck the crossbar from a corner.

However, in time added on, captain Hugh Howell stole possession, broke through the midfield and fed Williams through on goal. The former national under-20 star slotted past the advancing Joseph Vargas for the game's only goal.

Bailey hopes that the win against the league leaders will springboard them to greater things. "A spectator told me when I got there today, that I was going to get five. I told him is me and God come today, so let's see them give God five. So it's a good win. The team never gave up and we looked much better today," he continued.

"Mount Pleasant is the team everybody said you need to beat and if you can beat the team that is the team to beat, it's a great motivation for the team. We are going to try to use this and move forward. Just imagine if we had lost this game. So it's a good feeling, and this will lift the team," he added.

The win lifted Humble Lion from the foot of the table to ninth. However, they are tied on six points with Reno, who play Montego Bay United this evening, and Dunbeholden. They hold the same goal difference as Dunbeholden but have scored more goals.

Portmore now leads the standings with 14 points after a 1-1 draw with UWI FC, while Tivoli Gardens FC joins Mount Pleasant on 13 points after a 1-1 draw with Harbour View.

Yesterday's other results:

Waterhouse 1 - 1 Arnett

Dunbeholden 1 - 1 Cavalier

Portmore 1 - 1 UWI

Tivoli 1 - 1 Harbour View