Red hot Richards takes Jamalco top of the RSPL

Photo: Rohan Richards has started the season with a bang, scoring four goals for Jamalco FC to lead the scoring charts, just as his team have risen to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League. Jamalco has won three games in a row, scoring three goals in each match.

A brace from the red hot Rohan Richards helped guide Jamalco FC to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League, when they clipped Marverley/Hughenden FC 3-2 in a pulsating game at the Constant Spring Field on Sunday.

The clash of the newly promoted teams saw Jamalco take the lead in the 17th minute when Richards struck. But the home fans were celebrating just five minutes later when Nicholas Scott drew Marverley level.

The fans had to wait until the second half for another goal and when it came it was worth the wait. Richards produced something out of the top draw to give his team the lead for the second time in the match in the 55^th minute and take his season’s tally to four. Daryan James extended the Jamalco lead eleven minutes later, but just when the visitors seemed home and dry, Rodico Wellington cut the deficit.

Wellington held his nerve to score from the penalty spot to make it 3-2 but the premier league first timers held on for all three points which took them top of the league for the very first time. It was the third game in a row that Jamalco scored three goals in a match.

Marverley who started the day in 6^th position have slipped to 9^th as a result of the loss.

There was lots of excitement at the Barbican Field where struggling Boys Town thought they had done enough to take a share of the points, until former Reggae Boy Tremaine Stewart broke their hearts in the 4^th minute of added time.

Rayan Wellington had earlier given the visitors Portmore United a 12^th minute lead, but Shamar Nicholson drew the teams level in the 74^th minute.

With 90 minutes played, Boys Town were sure they had secured their first point of the season, until a screamer from Stewart decided the contest. Boys Town have now suffered four losses in a row and remain one spot above last place by virtue of goal difference. The one bright spot for Boys Town is the scoring form of Nicholson who has scored three goals in four games to be second in the goal scoring charts.

Last placed Waterhouse could not find their way to goal and they too suffered a fourth straight loss to begin the season, after they were clipped 1-0 by Humble Lion. Levaughn Williams got the game’s only goal at the Effortville Community Centre in the 79^th minute as Humble Lion moved up a spot to third in the tables. Waterhouse remains in last place without a single point and with a goal difference of -6.

Last year’s Cinderella team UWI FC, got back to winning ways when they upset Tivoli Gardens 2-1 at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. After a goalless first half, Patrick Brown gave the visitors the lead just five minutes after the restart.

Anthony Greenland doubled the lead for UWI in the 77^th minute before Junior McGregor halved the deficit for Tivoli with seven minutes to go. The visitors hung on for the three points to stop a run of two games without a win.

Champions Montego Bay United got the better of Reno FC at Frome in the clash of the Western teams, blanking the hosts 2-0 and inflicting the first defeat of the season on the Wendell Downswell coached unit.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw before Allan Ottey scored in the 81^st minute. Jermaine Woozencroft made the game safe in the 87^th minute as Mobay United racked up their third win on the trot.

The champions have moved up to second place in the league, tied on 9 points with surprise leaders Jamalco, who possess a better goal difference. Reno was the only remaining unbeaten team at the start of match day four.

The live television game was played at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex where Arnett Gardens FC hosted Harbour View FC in the early kick-off.

The game was decided by a 12^th minute strike by Dicoy Williams. Harbour View failed to clear their lines after a corner kick and the big defender was able to bundle home from close range for only his fifth goal for the club in the last two seasons.

Arnett moved up two spots to 5^th place, tied on points with fourth placed Portmore, sixth place Reno and seventh place UWI FC.