Leaders Mt Pleasant FA opened up a six-point lead over the rest of the field in the Jamaica Premier League after beating second-placed Arnett Gardens 2-0 in their second-round game played at Drax Hall, St Ann on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.
Mt Pleasant FA were winning their ninth straight game, one shy of Arnett’s record, and raced to 43 points, six more than Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens, both on 37 points, as defending champions Cavalier FC lost some ground back in fourth place after they were held 1-1 by promoted Racing United on Monday night.
On Sunday, Raheem Edwards gave the home team an early lead when he scored in the third minute of the game, beating goalkeeper Roje Williams to his left and just inside the goal post.
Franco Celestin, who replaced Shaquille Bradford in the 75th minute, doubled Mt Pleasant FA’s advantage two minutes later with his first goal of the season when his shot from just inside the 18 yards box deflected off an Arnett player and through the legs of Williams and into the goal.
On Monday, Montego Bay United, who were playing at the Anthony Spaulding complex for the second straight match week, rebounded to beat Molynes United 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Jourdain Fletcher, his first of the season, and Shaniel Thomas.
Fletcher gave MBU the lead, finishing off a smart move from Thomas, deftly scooping the ball over the head of goalkeeper Darren Donaie at his near right post in the 46th minute.
Thomas was well placed five minutes later to poke a cross from Darnell Hospedales between two defenders and past Donaie to double the lead, scoring his seventh goal of the season.
In the second game of the doubleheader, defending champions Cavalier FC came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Racing United, which had upset them in the first round. To add salt to their wounds, Cavalier FC lost striker Dwayne Atkinson in the first half after he was taken off the field on a stretcher after he was injured.
Tajay Grant gave Racing United the lead in the 27th minute, but Richard King salvaged a point for Cavalier FC when he scored from a goalmouth melee in the 76th minute.
Fifth-placed Portmore United won back-to-back games for the first time since November when a Tadj Bryan hat trick led them to a comfortable 4-0 win over last-placed Harbour View at Ferdie Neita Park.
The win kept Portmore United in fifth place on goal difference ahead of Waterhouse, which blanked Vere United 3-0 at Wembley Centre of Excellence. Bryan scored in the fourth, 28th, and 67th minutes, with Stephen Young adding a fourth in the 81st minute.
Waterhouse beat Vere United for the second time this season. Martin Davis scored a brace, getting goals in the eighth and 69th minutes. Andre Fletcher also scored in time added at the end of the first half.
Tivoli Gardens avenged their first-round loss to Dunbeholden, beating them 2-0 with late goals from Nickalia Fuller in the 82nd minute and Rodico Wellington in the 90th minute.
Humble Lion moved off the foot of the points tables after avenging their first-round loss to 10-man Chapelton Maroon, winning 1 – 0 to end a winless run of 10 games. Stephen Barnett scored the game’s only goal in the 53rd minute, on his debut for Humble Lion as Chapelton played one man short for the entire second half after Damari Deacon was sent off in the 45th minute.
