Mount Pleasant end year with impressive win

Mount Pleasant will end the year on a high after they defeated Waterhouse 3-0 in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) clash at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium last night. They lead the standings with 34 points, three ahead of Montego Bay and Arnett Gardens with 31 each.

After the game, coach Theodore Whitmore dedicated the win to the ‘loyal’ Mount Pleasant fans.

“It is great to finish on top of the league for this year, and we look forward to 2025 with continued support from the management, the staff, and the fans who have been loyal supporters. So this game is dedicated to them for a happy New Year,” he said.

Shaquile Bradford fired the St Ann-based club into the lead after only four minutes before Kimoni Bailey made it 2-0 with his league-leading ninth goal of the season in the 16th minute.

Raheem Edwards then sealed a convincing win with a strike from outside the area in the 62nd minute.

“To come here against Waterhouse, one of the top six teams, and give such a performance with three goals and a clean sheet, it is a plus for us,” Whitmore added.

The game had barely started when Edwards fired the visitors in front. Mount Pleasant consolidated their dominance when Bailey capitalised on some good play from down the right to stab home at the back post.

The winners could have heaped more early pressure on the home team, but Jashaun Anglin’s penalty was saved by Kemar Foster in the 22nd minute.

Atapharoy Bygrave had Waterhouse’s best chance, but he failed to make contact from four yards after a good pass from Javane Bryan.

After the break, Mount Pleasant increased their dominance, and Franco Celestin nearly added to their lead, but Foster went full-stretch to palm his vicious strike from inside the near post.

However, a couple minutes later, Edwards was allowed space in the area and his deflected shot looped over Foster and into the goal to make it 3-0.

Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle said it is always tough losing at home.

“It is not something we pride ourselves about. We are always dangerous at home, but today, we were not brave in some of the areas we need to be brave in.

“We were a bit slow out of the blocks from the start. We made a lot of changes in the squad, and they took a while to settle down. But our decision-making in the final third could have been better,” he said.

Waterhouse stayed fifth in the table with 16 points.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s results

Dunbeholden 2-2 Racing

Harbour View 0-1 Montego Bay

Portmore 1-1 Cavalier

Vere 0-5 Molynes

Tivoli 5-1 Humble Lion

Waterhouse 0-3 Mount Pleasant

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