Hardy brace gives Molynes first JPL win
Published:Thursday | December 28, 2023 | 12:12 AM
DANIEL HARDY scored a goal in each half to lead Molynes United to their first three-point effort of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, a 2-1 win over Montego Bay United at the Anthony Spaulding Complex on Wednesday.
The attacker opened the scoring for Molynes 22 minutes into the match before adding a second on the hour mark. Although Shaquille West pulled one back for the St James team in the 72nd minute, Molynes held on to secure the win.
Molynes coach Jermaine Thomas said his team needed the result.
“It is a big one. We needed this psychologically, mentally. The entire club needed this from the top down to the equipment manager.
“Today we stayed compact and organised. We knew they were going to play 4-3-3. That system you need space behind to run into, and we sat in a medium block, not allowing them to play and we frustrated at times, making them go over the top, and once they went over the top, we regained possession. But this is a big one, a good one for us,” he said.
He also credited Hardy for coming up trumps on the night.
“He has been working hard in training, and to get two crucial goals for us speaks wonders for him. So it comes down to if he does not make this get to him and he continues to work hard.”
EVEN START
After a fairly even start, Molynes’ Steve Reid had the first chance after 12 minutes, but his effort, after good work from Rashawn Livingston and Jason Wright, was blocked on the line.
Both teams created good openings in the first 23 minutes, but it was Molynes who jumped in front when Hardy broke loose inside the box and fired under Davonnie Burton for the opener.
Molynes continued to look the more dangerous of the teams and wasted a number of other good opportunities to extend their lead, with Wright and Livingston missing good chances.
MoBay had a great chance to get back into the game on the stroke of halftime, but Deonjay Brown was indecisive and the opportunity went a-begging.
Molynes continued to probe in the second half, with Livingston as the main protagonist though their second goal in the 60th minute came when Hardy headed home from a corner.
MoBay got a goal back 17 minutes from time when a defender lost possession in his area and Shaquille West tapped home the rebound after goalkeeper Peter Harrison’s initial save.
“We didn’t have a consistent game,” MoBay coach Neider Dos Santos said. “We started well and then a silly mistake let them in. The second half, we improved a little bit. We tried to push more forward and then allowed a free header. So a night to forget.”
Molynes remain second from bottom but moved up to seven points while MoBay stay 10th on the 14-team table with 11 points.