ASHLEY ANGUIN
Gleaner Writer
Mount Pleasant Football Academy claimed the advantage over Montego Bay United FC in their first-leg Jamaica Premier League semi-final football match courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline at Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James last night.
Clifford Thomas scored the all-important goal for St Ann team Mount Pleasant, netting at the 21st minute.
Mount Pleasant were beaten by Cavalier in last year's final and are looking to regain the title.
The match was the feature of a doubleheader at the MoBay venue last night.
In the opening game, defending champions Cavalier and Arnett Gardens played to a 1-1 draw.
Cavalier led for much of the contest, after Jerome McLeary produced a moment of brilliance in the 26th minute to score his second goal for the season, from close range, to give his team a 1-0 lead.
But the league's leading goalscorer, Warner Brown, scored from close range in the 80th minute to register his 22nd goal and put Arnett Gardens on even keel going into Sunday's return clash at Sabina Park.
"The goal is another one to add to the tally so it is a great feeling," Brown said. "We were up against a tough opponent in Cavalier. Being down one-nil we needed that goal and I am happy we got it," Brown said.
Cavalier's head coach Rudolph Speid said the team needed to be sharper.
"This our 96th game in one year and 10 months, so you know that we're not going to be as sharp. We weren't able to put away some of the chances that we got. It is not the best of results, but not the worst either."
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