Bailey stars for Mount Pleasant
Defending champions come from behind to whip Molynes 3-1
Published:Monday | November 13, 2023 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Kimoni Bailey scored a goal and earned a penalty as defending champions Mount Pleasant fought back from a goal down to beat Molynes United 3-1 in the 2023 Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
Jermy Nelson fired Molynes ahead after 70 minutes from the penalty spot, but Marlon Allen responded three minutes later before Bailey’s emphatic strike and Oquassa Chong’s added-time penalty saw the St Ann team to their second win in three matches.
Bailey, a former Dunbeholden winger, got his second goal of the season, and he said after the match that the players were always confident that they would come back in the game and gain a victory.
“It wasn’t a good start, but I knew my team could do it. We turned it up in the second half after the coach talked to us at the break,” he said.
Molynes created the better chances in the first half, but neither Shamaro Dennis nor Jason Wright could take advantage.
Mount Pleasant came out the better team in the second half, but it was losers who went ahead when Gawain Austin fouled a Molynes attacker in the box and Nelson converted from 12 yards to put them in front.
However, three minutes later, a defensive blunder gave Allen his chance to score, and he made no mistake.
Bailey then put his team in the lead with the goal of the match, a thunderous left-foot strike from the edge of the area in the 80th minute.
The champions then sealed the win in the fifth minute of added time when Bailey was bundled over in the box and Chong put away the resulting spot kick.
Bailey admitted that since joining Mount Pleasant he is more focused and he believes his hard work is paying off this season.
“I am more focused now. I am working even harder, so the results are showing. It is my second goal in my third game, and it’s a great feeling to help my team,” he said.
Molynes coach Alex Thomas said against a quality team like Mount Pleasant, they had to take their chances.
“After a beautiful first half, we should be leading the game by 4-0, but we never capitalised on our chances,” he said.