JPL: Treasure Beach, Humble Lion still seeking first win

TREASURE Beach and Humble Lion are still searching for their first win of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season after playing to a 1-1 draw at St Elizabeth Technical High School yesterday.

Treasure Beach went ahead when Jhanni Flemmings broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, but substitute Shane Gordon found an equaliser in the 86th minute to secure a point for Humble Lion.

Head coach of Treasure Beach Kemar Ricketts said they had a late lapse in concentration, while also acknowledging that the team had endured a difficult week in preparation for the encounter.

The result comes against the backdrop of recent unrest at Treasure Beach, where players threatened strike action over delayed payments and concerns about their treatment by club management.

“I just think winning doesn’t just start on the day, it starts way before that. This week has been rough in terms of training and getting everything organised. I think if we organise and get things better, then we will get there,” said Ricketts.

Despite several absences for various reasons, Treasure Beach had 20 players listed for the match, with Ricketts revealing that several new players also made their debut for the club.

The coach stressed that improved preparation would be critical to turning their performances into victories.

“We would love to prepare properly so we can win. I believe preparation prevents poor performance. I just think it was one slight lapse in concentration which gave them a goal.

“We just want to continue to work and hopefully get the three points in our next game,” he added.

The result leaves Treasure Beach 12th in the standings on two points, while Humble Lion sits 13th place with one point.

Meanwhile, Humble Lion coach Davion Meggo praised his players for showing character to recover from a goal down, but admitted that poor decision-making in the final third prevented them from securing all three points.

“We came here and we wanted a win. But to trail 1-0 away from home and come back to draw, that shows some form of character, and that gives us something positive,” said Meggo.

“In football, you have to take your chances. We created some chances, or some half-chances, but we didn’t take them and rushed our decisions in the final third.

“We had to tweak a few things in terms of substitutions and the system to try to get back in the game,” he added.

In another fixture, former champions Montego Bay United (MBU) climbed to the top of the standings after clipping last-placed Dunbeholden to move to 10 points.

MBU’s leading goalscorer Jourdain Fletcher netted the decisive goal in the third minute to maintain the club’s positive start to the campaign.