‘Treasure Beach will stay in the league’
• Opening-round win gives newcomers confidence• Patrick still sees room for improvement despite 5-1 win over Arnett
Published:Wednesday | August 27, 2025 | 12:08 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
THE FIRST week of action in the Wray and Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League (JPL) brought its fair share of drama as Racing United delivered the biggest shock of the season so far when they thumped Arnett Gardens 5-1 to get their campaign under way.
Phillip Williams had a rough outing in his first JPL match in charge of the Junglists, with his charges putting up little fight against a rampaging Racing United outfit.
The St Catherine-based team, led by head coach Anthony Patrick, were quick off the mark, scoring three goals of the contest in the opening 10 minutes of action.
Goals from Giovanni Cunningham (fifth minute, 35th), Nickyle Ellis (6th), Tajay Grant (10th) and Tyrone Mullings (90th+7) led the way for Racing as they marched to the top of the JPL standings.
Rushike Nelson’s goal in the 69th minute did little to spare Arnett’s blushes at the end.
Patrick, though pleased with the dominant win, felt his team had taken their foot off the pedal in the second half and allowed Arnett to get a goal back.
“I’m pleased, but not too pleased, with the second half,” he said.
“We should have killed off the game for the first 15 to 20 minutes in the second half, but we started to play around, and we started to slack off. and hence, Arnett got back a one goal.”
Season favourites
In a clash of two of the early season favourites, Mount Pleasant Football Academy and Montego Bay United played out an exciting 2-2 draw.
Mount Pleasant, last season’s beaten finalists, opened the scoring through Shaquille Bradford in the 18th minute but were pegged back when Montego Bay’s new signing, Jahmari Clarke, pulled his team level in the 49th.
Dwight Merrick gave MoBay the lead just two minutes later, and they seemed set to leave with all three points.
However, their hopes were dashed when Owen Jumpp rescued a point for Mount Pleasant in the 83rd.
Chapelton Maroons kicked off their new era after being acquired by Phoenix Academy with a win as they clipped Tivoli Gardens 2-1 at home.
A Levaughn Williams brace led Chapelton to their first win of the season as new club CEO Kaycie Butler maintained that the team would take on the season without fear.
Newly promoted Treasure Beach enjoyed a fantastic return to the top-flight as they downed Spanish Town Police 2-0.
Shaquille Jones opened the scoring just past the halfway mark before new signing Daniel Hardy sealed the win in time added.
Treasure Beach are no strangers to the JPL, having played in the 2023-24 season before being immediately relegated.
Head coach Kemar Ricketts said that will not be their fate this time around as he looks to confirm their spots as regulars in the island’s top-flight.
“Treasure Beach will stay in the league,” Ricketts declared after the match.
“It’s a long season, and we wanted to start strong. I think we would have struggled to get our foot in the first half, but the second half we came out with more purpose and got two goals.”
The results see Racing taking the top spot on a superior goal difference as they, Portmore United, Waterhouse, and Chapelton Maroons all registered wins.
Defending champions Cavalier sit eighth in the standings following a goalless draw against Harbour View.
Sitting at the foot of the table are Arnett, who will be looking to pick up their form in the following games.