Fans return to split points in top-of-the-table clash
Published:Sunday | February 27, 2022 | 12:13 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
THE FANS of Mount Pleasant did their part in welcoming their team back to Drax Hall for the first time in two years. However, the team could not reward those fans with a win against second-place Waterhouse in an early season top-of-the-table clash that kept both teams in check.
Instead, the points were shared as it finished 1-1 in their Jamaica Premier League clash yesterday afternoon.
Allan Ottey gave the home side the lead in the 16th minute but Denardo Thomas restored parity in the 69th minute, as Mount Pleasant preserved their unbeaten start to the season and maintained their hold of the top spot in the league.
Yesterday’s double-header signified the first weekend that fully vaccinated fans were allowed to see local top-flight football in person for the first time in two years as the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions left them out of football venues.
Mount Pleasant interim head coach Walter Downes said the conditions made for an even game, with the only disappointment being that they could not give the fans the end result they desired.
“It was a game of two halves. We dominated when we had the slope and the wind in the first half and they dominated when they had the slope and the wind in the second half,” Downes said.
“It’s great to get them (the supporters) back in today [yesterday]. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t reach out and get the extra goal to give them the win.”
The adjustment to the grass surface after playing the majority of their games on the artificial surface at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence was a welcome sight, especially for Waterhouse head coach Marcel Gayle, who felt that the momentum that they gained after equalising should have been utilised better.
SUITABLE FIELD
“The width of field suits our football game because we try to pass the ball (on the ground). It was like boxing. We were tiring the opponent. You could see that in the last 25 minutes. We should have taken advantage of it,” Gayle said.
Although the gap between the two sides remained at three points, Gayle said that his side, who are in second place, are right where they want to be in the chase for the title.
Meanwhile, Harbour View and Humble Lion played to a 0-0 draw in the first game of the Drax Hall double-header. Despite having the majority of possession and chances to boot, somehow Harbour View could not break down a Humble Lion team who is still winless after seven games. Harbour View were almost made to pay for their wastefulness after they conceded a penalty in the 85th minute. However, they were let off the hook when Humble Lion’s Andrew Vanzie’s attempt went over the bar.
Harbour View head coach Ludlow Bernard said that his team will need improve their offensive efficiency in order to reward their improved play with consistently positive results.
“They are understanding the concept of really keeping possession. Now they need to take their game to another level and try to and see if we can make a lot more conversions in our games,” Bernard said.
Still searching for their first win, Humble Lion head coach Andrew Price said that their first clean sheet of the season should be a platform upon which they can break their winless cycle.