Mount Pleasant strike late to hold Dunbeholden
Coach Whitmore slams his players for playing without the desire and intensity required to win
Published:Tuesday | May 16, 2023 | 1:52 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Mount Pleasant coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore has slammed his team for playing without the desire and intensity required to win their first leg Jamaica Premier League (JPL) quarterfinal against Dunbeholden at Sabina Park yesterday after they escaped with a 1-1 draw.
Stephen Barnett fired Dunbeholden ahead in the 52nd minute, but Leonardo Rankine’s added time goal (97th minute) ensured Mount Pleasant left with a share of the spoils.
Nevertheless, Whitmore was far from impressed with his charges and will be demanding more of them for the second leg.
“I didn’t see a Mount Pleasant team that wanted it this evening. We let in the Dunbeholden team and had to fight back. So come the next leg we have to do things differently. But it’s a two-leg tie and we came out with a 1-1 draw, so come the next leg we have to go for it,” he said.
The game was evenly contested with Mount Pleasant getting the better looks at goal in the first stanza. They also started the better team in the second half but it was Dunbeholden who broke the deadlock when Stephen Williams controlled a loose ball at the back post, and although goalkeeper Shaquan Davis parried his effort, Barnett was there to turn in the opener.
Curling free kick
Ricardo Morris came close with a curling free kick minutes later, and Mount Pleasant dominated possession thereafter but with not much effect, as they found a well-organised and gritty Dunbeholden defence not giving anything away and always dangerous on the counter.
But with eight minutes of time added, Mount Pleasant kept probing and pushing forward and with only a minute remaining, Leonardo Rankine turned home the ball during a melee for a last-gasp equaliser.
“When we brought on (Jourdain) Fletcher and (Atapharoy) Bygrave and Devonte Campbell, we got a lot more up front. Leonardo came in as a sub but this is why we have substitutions, so players can come in and make a difference and Leonard came in and made a difference,” Whitmore said.
Dunbeholden assistant coach Craig Richards said it was disappointing not to leave with the goal advantage.
“We would have hoped to hold on to that 1-0 lead going into the next game but unfortunately we were not as disciplined as we would have liked.
“But I must say we are pleased after playing Mount Pleasant and creating so many chances, while limiting them to just a few chances. We have another leg and we look forward to that. We just have to continue to be solid and prevent them from creating chances and get them on the counter,” he said.