2 months ago
15
THEODORE ‘TAPPA’ Whitmore guided Mount Pleasant to their first-ever win in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup after a 2-1 result over Arnett Gardens in their second Group A match at Sabina Park yesterday.
Shai Smith pulled Arnett level in the 54th minute after Jahshaun Anglin’s 33rd-minute opener. But Kimonie Bailey ensured all three points with a fine solo effort nine minutes from the end.
“We didn’t want to find any excuses. We asked the boys one things and that was to give of their best, give 110 per cent and they went out and left it on the pitch,” Whitmore said afterwards.
“After coming off a loss, for us this three points means a lot to the clubs, it means a lot to the players and we just have to keep working and keep improving.”
According to Whitmore, he wanted o make a statement with his first game back. Again it is three points. But you go out and want to make a statement and we did that this afternoon.”
After a cagey start, Mount Pleasant had the first glimpse of goal when Gadail Irving shot whisked across the goal with Shaquille Bradford only inches away.
Five minutes later, the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) finalists had an even better opportunity but Anglin was denied by goalkeeper Asher Hutchinson, who raced off his line to block the midfielder’s effort.
Midway the half, Mount Pleasant settled into the game and Campbell should have done better from Anglin’s incisive pass in the 22nd minute.
They eventually broke the deadlock after Daniel Green got by Deandre Cunningham and centred for Anglin to plant a header past Hutchinson.
Arnett’s best opening fell to Jamone Shepherd but he slammed his shot aimlessly wide.
Jean Ferreira nearly added a second for Mount Pleasant just before half time but he could not beat Hutchinson from a difficult angle.
Bradford also came close in first-half added time after he stole possession, but he was again denied by Hutchinson.
Arnett’s best chance came right before the half, but Shepherd’s shot hit the bar and went over.
Arnett started the second half well and created some early troubles inside the Mount Pleasant penalty area, as Smith headed home Kimani Arbouine’s drilled ball into the box for the equaliser.
Moments later Fabian Reid slammed a shot off the underside of the bar, that had Davis all beaten
The Arnett Gardens forward then shot another off the post in the 59th minute after a slick build-up.
The Junglists continued to create openings but Mount Pleasant were becoming a greater threat on the break and in the 72nd minute Nicholas Nelson hit the post on a quick counter.
Bailey then restored Mount Pleasant’s lead in the 81st minute after wriggling his way through two defenders and shooting under Hutchinson.
Still, Reid should have restored parity four minutes later but he could not steer Warner Brown’s cross past Davis in goal.
Arnett Gardens coach Xavier Gilbert thought they gave a good account of themselves and deserved something from the match.
“It was a good game but we made some mistakes and it cost us. We weren’t tight enough on some of the things we set out to do, and we allowed Mount Pleasant some spaces in behind and it hurt us,” he said.
“We made some poor decisions up top in the final third. When you have momentum, teams are always vulnerable to concede on counters and fast breaks, and that is something we didn’t do tonight and it cost us.”
Mount Pleasant join Cavalier at the top of the group on three points, though they have played a game more. Police and Real Hope have a point apiece. While Arnett are bottom without a point.
“It is just unfortunate we are on the losing end,” Gilbert added.
“It is just the first game. We are still in it. It might set us back in terms of points on the board and we are probably at the bottom of the table. But we are going to give it a shot. We have multiple games.”
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