Following a period of instability triggered by Hurricane Melissa’s disruption late last year, Montego Bay United has emphatically rediscovered its championship form. Head Coach Xavier Gilbert expressed profound satisfaction with his squad’s remarkable consistency, which has propelled them to a dominant position in the Jamaica Premier League standings.
The team’s resurgence was on full display during a decisive 3-0 triumph over Molynes United at Jarrett Park this Sunday. This victory, marking an almost flawless January campaign, was secured through goals from Nashordo Gibbs in the first half, followed by second-half contributions from Brian Brown and Jourdain Fletcher. This offensive showcase made Montego Bay the first team this season to reach the 40-goal milestone.
Gilbert acknowledged the challenging transition after the lengthy weather-enforced break, which saw the team secure only one win in their initial five post-restart matches in early December. However, he maintained confidence throughout the process. “I knew it was gonna take us some time to get our footing right, and I think we’re on the right path now,” Gilbert stated in a post-game interview. He emphasized the strategic management of players and adapting to each unique match scenario as key factors in their success.
The team now sits comfortably atop the league with 45 points, establishing a significant seven-point buffer ahead of second-place Racing United. With what Gilbert describes as the “toughest two months of the season” ahead, featuring congested fixtures, strategic squad rotation remains paramount.
Conversely, Molynes United’s Head Coach Jermaine Thomas attributed their third consecutive winless match to critical defensive lapses. “Today I thought we made some awful defensive errors, and we paid for them. At this level you don’t make those errors,” Thomas lamented, highlighting his team’s inconsistency despite patches of strong play.
In other weekend fixtures, Racing United mounted a impressive second-half comeback to defeat Spanish Town Police FC 3-1, Portmore United secured a narrow 1-0 victory against defending champions Cavalier FC, Mount Pleasant FA bested Chapelton Maroons 2-0, and Harbour View FC drew 2-2 with Tivoli Gardens.