Dunbeholden edge 10-man Molynes in JPL
Published:Monday | April 3, 2023 | 1:23 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Dunbeholden assistant coach Craig Richards says their 3-2 win over 10-man Molynes United FC in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the Ashenheim Stadium yesterday is a welcome boost to their subpar season and playoff hopes.
Dunbeholden (29 points) temporarily leapfrogged Portmore United into seventh by a point thanks to Ricardo Thomas’ brace from the penalty spot. Peter McGregor netted the other goal for the winners.
Jason Wright (penalty) and Nicholas Nelson were the scorers for Molynes.
“It was a hard-fought game. We knew the Molynes team will be tough as they came here on the back of a few victories while we were having an up-and-down season, so this win is very important,” he said.
The result has revived their ambitions for a playoff place, and he insists that they will be pushing to the end.
“We have five games to go, and we are pushing for victories in those games and see where that leads us. But we will play until the last whistle blows,” he said.
After a spirited start, Dunbeholden went in front after Stephen Barnett was brought down inside the area, and Thomas slotted home in the 27th minute.
Both teams continued to trade blows, and in the 42nd minute, Barnett was again taken down in the box, and Thomas dispatched the spot kick.
Then just before the break, Molynes defender Johnoy Cunningham, who was yellow-carded after his vehement protest against the second penalty, picked up a second caution and a red card for kicking away the ball after a foul was called against his team just before the interval.
POSITIVE
Molynes remained positive after the break and pushed forward. But it was DeAndre Brown who had the best chance to score for Dunbeholden, but his tame effort from six yards, with goalkeeper Peter Harrison out of goal, was stopped on the line.
The once-feared striker then turned another sitter wide, and moments later, Molynes went up field and won a penalty, which Wright converted to halve the deficit.
Molynes continued to press and created some nervy moments for their opponents, but Dunbeholden weathered the storm, and in the 79th minute, Thomas set up McGregor for the third.
Molynes got another goal in time added after a good combination between Wright and Nelson ended with the latter firing home from 12 yards.
“The red card was really bad. But even though we went down to 10 men, we showed heart and determination to get back in the game,” said coach Alex Thomas. “What let us down was the mental aspect. Even though the referee is not having a good game, we have to know that he is in charge.”
Molynes stay ninth on 25 points.