Gritty Molynes performance brings second win

Molynes United produced a gritty performance to defeat last season’s beaten finalists Cavalier 1-0 in their Jamaica Premier League encounter at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

Striker Oquassa Chong scored the game’s only goal in the 19th minute as Molynes secured their second victory of the season.

Head coach Jermaine Thomas was delighted with the result.

“We really needed this one because we have been working hard from the week before, but it was unfortunate that we lost to Dunbeholden. Today we came, we fought, and we got the victory,” said Thomas.

“This is our second win and the aim is to continue to build on this, and we are definitely going to build on this,” he said.

Cavalier assistant coach David Laylor said poor finishing proved costly.

“The problem for us is that we are not scoring goals because we created a lot of chances that we should have put away,” he said.

“We just have to work on our defence and attack because we have been conceding goals and we are not scoring, so this is something that we definitely have to work on going forward,” he said.

After a cagey start, Chong gave Molynes the lead with a superb 25-yard free-kick that sailed past goalkeeper Taywane Lynch and into the back of the net.

Shad San Millan came close to equalising for Cavalier a few minutes later, but his powerful 18-yard effort was tipped over the crossbar.

Molynes’ Garth Stewart thought he had doubled his team’s advantage on the stroke of half-time, but his powerful effort from 12 yards was well saved by substitute goalkeeper Nathaniel Francis.

Cavalier started the second half brightly, dominating the early exchanges and creating a number of chances.

Substitute Romarion Thomas, who entered at the start of the half, dribbled past two defenders inside the penalty area in the 51st minute, but his tame effort was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.

Cavalier continued to push for an equaliser but were repeatedly denied by disciplined defending from the Molynes backline.

Both teams were reduced to 10 players in the 78th minute after Odane Murray of Molynes United and Cavalier substitute Nicholas Hamilton were sent off.

Murray received a second yellow card, while Hamilton was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Cavalier continued to press for a breakthrough but failed to convert any of their chances.