Dentist comes to MoBay United's rescue

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

It took the tactical skills of a dentist to extract them from the hole they had found themselves in, but Montego Bay United FC (MBUFC) have finally won a game on the field in the 2011-12 National Premier League.

Under the guidance of newly acquired coach Dr Dean Weatherley, who joined the coaching staff at the start of the week, the MBUFC, behind a second-half strike by Rohan Bernard, carved out a close 1-0 win over western neighbours Village United at the Montego Bay Stadium on Wednesday night.

"This team has been accustomed to hearing many voices but tonight they heard one voice and they responded to it and we got a win," said Weatherley, a dentist by profession. "Let us hope that this is the beginning of something good for this club."

The win, which is technically their second, having taken maximum points off Boys' Town in the boardroom after the west Kingston team was penalised for using an ineligible player, has taken the MBUFC team to six points from their six games. However, it was more disappointment for Village, which were suffering their sixth consecutive defeat.

"We got a raw deal from the match officials," said a Village United official, who asked not to be named. "We scored what looked to me like a legitimate goal and had it taken away."

For Village, their defeat was not as a result of lack of opportunities because they created and wasted numerous chances, especially in the first half when they had control of the game for long periods and seemingly had their opponents frustrated.

Of their many chances, Village's mostly glaring misses came two minutes apart in the 30th and 32nd minutes. First, Troy Smith broke free on the edge of the penalty area but fired over the crossbar. Second, Romaine Roberts broke free before the goal but fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Another close one

On the stroke of half-time, Roberts again came close for Village, but his cracking grounder was well saved by the diving MBUFC goalkeeper.

The second half started with MBUFC looking quite purposeful, putting serious pressure on Village for the first time in the game. In fact, they could have scored after a mere two minutes when Kemar James fumbled badly after dribbling into the goal area.

With substitutes Allan Ottey and Jermaine Woozencroft adding red-hot pace to the MBUFC front line, the team's relentless attacks paid off in the 74th minute. Bernard pounced on a cross before the goal and fired into the roof of the net, making the score 1-0.

Village got what they thought was the equaliser when substitute Teofore Bennett flashed a diving header into the back of the net only to have his celebration cut short by a raised offside flag from one of the match officials.