Police earn first point after chance-filled encounter
Published:Tuesday | September 23, 2025 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
DEBUTANTS SPANISH Town Police secured their first-ever point in the Jamaica Premier League, after a fifth attempt, holding Chapelton Maroons to a 0-0 draw in the opening Monday night game at Drewsland.
Spanish Town Police had lost all four previous games, conceding six goals and scoring once, and although the point is a big morale boost, assistant coach William Spencer lamented their profligacy in front of goal.
“It means a lot to us. To be off the mark after five games, we are grateful for the point and we just want to build on that point. It’s a good point. But I’m a bit disappointed because [there have been] too many chances and we are still not converting.
“We are trying to solve it in training. But it’s a work in progress and we are still trying. We are going to try every game. So you can expect a good fight from the Police team every time we play,” Spencer stated.
It was a lively start from the bottom-of-the-table Spanish Town, who constantly threatened the Chapelton goal throughout the half.
The St Catherine team’s most telling chance of the half fell to Diamond Clarke, after a quick counterattack, but the winger volleyed his shot just inches wide of the post.
They had an even better chance in the 38th minute, when Clarke’s cross found Alwayne Danvers free at the back post, but he somehow managed to miss the target from six yards.
Shevan James also headed a good chance over from a corner in the 43rd minute.
The influential Clarke then forced goalkeeper Prince Daniel Smith to dig a free kick around his post, while Raheem Facey blasted the ball over the top in first-half stoppage time after he broke through the Chapelton defence.
Chapelton started the second half much better and had the first chance after five minutes, but Robinho Gordon fired straight at Glenroy Samuels after breaking through the Police defence.
Moments later, Gordon got in the way of Vanzie, when the midfielder was about to strike from just inside the box.
A couple minutes after, Facey got loose inside Chapelton’s six-yard box, but slammed the ball against the post
Chapelton continued to take the game to their opponents, matching their physicality and intensity in the second half.
However, it was Police who got the chance to go in front when Facey broke on a counter and played the ball across the area, but Danvers put the ball wide.
Chapelton pushed for the winner in the closing stages and Zaire Pinnock hooked a good chance wide in the 80th, while Malike Stephens headed an opportunity over three minutes later.
Carlton Brown could have won it for Spanish Town, but he blasted a great opportunity over in time added after making room in the box.
“This is a continuation from the game we lost,” said Chapelton coach Donovan Duckie.
“We did our reflection and we picked back up the pace.
“But football is like this. We played three and won three, and then we lost, so now we consolidate a point. Had we lost, it would have been a different story psychologically. So it is much to build on.”