Top dogs Mount Pleasant already looking towards JPL semis

Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s head coach, Theodore Whitmore, emphasised on recovery and preparation for the May 17 semi-final after the St Ann-based club secured top spot in the Jamaica Premier League’s (JPL) regular season.

The Caribbean Cup Champions edged Montego Bay United (MBU) 2-1 in a tense showdown at Drax Hall Sports Complex to hold on to the spot they had come into the game edging on goal difference.

“It will only be fair, as a team, to give them four days off to rejuvenate then come back on Monday, so we can start preparing for the semi-final. This was a tough game and we would have beaten the favourites of the competition this afternoon, so we think we are in a good space,” said Whitmore.

The Caribbean Cup-winning coach noted that the team remains optimistic about returning to the final but is still focusing on semi-final performance.

“I'm very optimistic about our chances in the finals. We would have gotten a taste of the Concacaf Championship, so that's where our main focus is - to reach the finals again.”

In a tightly contested clash between the league’s top-two sides, Mount Pleasant Academy’s Raheem Edwards gave his team the advantage in the 11th minute. Gregory Saint Fleur pulled one back for MoBay in the 21st before Angelo Exilus regained the lead in the 24th.

With the victory, Mount Pleasant closed the regular season as leaders on 74 points, while MBU settled for second place with 71, setting the stage for an exciting post-season battle.