First order of business

Newly appointed coach Anthony Patrick returned to the helm of a Jamaica Premier League (JPL) club last week, replacing Jermaine Thomas at Molynes United, and began his second stint with the Kingston-based outfit with a 2-2 away draw against Montego Bay United on Sunday.

Molynes made an encouraging start, racing to a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes, but were unable to hold on as the hosts fought back to earn a share of the points.

The team currently sit 12th in the 14-team standings with seven points from nine matches, having registered two wins, one draw and six defeats.

Patrick said he had received a warm welcome from the players, who responded positively to his training sessions, but admitted that their physical condition remains a major concern.

“The response has been very optimistic and upbeat, and the players gave me a warm welcome. We have had a number of training sessions so far, and they have responded well, but they are not in very good physical condition,” said Patrick.

“It took a toll on them in the last 15 minutes of the first half and, in the second half, after 75 minutes, a whole lot of players started going down with cramps. That is something we definitely have to address going forward.”

Patrick, who previously spent three months with Molynes during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, also pointed to a lack of attacking options on the bench against Montego Bay United.

“When you look around, there were not many offensive changes for us coming off the bench, because most of the players on the bench were defenders. Hopefully, we can get most of our players back so that we can start winning matches in this competition,” he said.

Having last coached in the JPL with Racing United last season, Patrick believes Molynes United have the commitment and quality within the squad to steer clear of the relegation zone.

“We want to garner as many points as possible in this round before the second round starts. I think we started out well at Montego Bay United, but it was just unlucky that we didn’t get the three points. It was a good point away from home,” he said.

“We just want to continue on this path, because I know the players are committed, and I am very committed. Together, I know we can get the job done,” Patrick noted.