Mullings double lifts Humble Lion
Published:Monday | April 25, 2022 | 12:12 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Ten-man Humble Lion secured a rare win in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) yesterday, with Kemar Mullings scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Cavalier at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Mullings fired the Clarendon team ahead after four minutes and added a second in the 17th minute. Defender Xavian Virgo was red-carded in the 22nd minute but the Clarendon-based club still pulled off the win.
Coach Andrew Price said nothing has come easy for his team this season and yesterday’s match was just another game filled with adversity, but they prevailed this time.
“One of the things this team has strived on is adversity, and this was just another one. We have had a season-high eight drawn games, and a lot of those games we should have had all three points, but we have been unfortunate on most of the occasions,” he noted.
“But things went our today, and I liked the fighting spirit and the character the team showed today. We showed resilience after getting that red card in the first half.
“They fought, they played hard and played to instructions and kept a good shape throughout, and we even had opportunities to extend the lead. So it was a workmanlike performance from the team.”
Humble Lion took the lead early when Cavalier goalkeeper Jaedine White spilled a cross under pressure from striker Andre Clennon and Mullings cleaned up from close range.
Humble Lion continued to create openings, and Clennon hit the bar with a header in the 18th minute before Mulling broke away and placed the ball past White to make it 2-0.
Cavalier came close to getting a goal back, but goalkeeper Dennis Taylor pushed Ronaldo Webster’s shot for a corner.
DEFENDED WITH PURPOSE
After the interval, Cavalier tried relentlessly to break down the Humble Lion defence but found chances hard to come by as Humble Lion side defended with purpose and kept them at bay while Clennon and Mullings were always dangerous on the break.
Cavalier’s best chance for a goal fell to Colin Anderson in time added, but he failed to make contact from three yards.
Shaneil Thomas came close afterwards, but he was denied twice by Taylor at the near post.
Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid said the death of Omar Laing has had a devastating impact on his players for this match.
“We have a lot of issues and we never had the cutting edge. It’s no excuse, but the team was kind of down because of what happened on Friday, and we just never had the edge to make it into a competitive game.
“We got some good, decent chances that we didn’t put away, but these are young players, and it is easy for things to affect their minds, and they were just not focused. It is just one of those games,” he said. Laing, an 18 year-old St Andrew Technical High Manning Cup star and Cavalier player, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in west Kingston on Friday night.
Cavalier stay fifth with 23 points while Humble Lion join Molynes United on 14 points. Molynes hold ninth spot by virtue of a better goal difference.
In other games, Tivoli Gardens blanked Vere United 1-0 and Mount Pleasant slammed Montego Bay United 3-0.
Today’s games5 p.m.: Dunbeholden vs Molynes United - Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex7:30 p.m.: Waterhouse vs Portmore - Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.