'We've gradually been improving' - MoBay United's coach expresses pleasure with team's recent showing after win at Arnett

Montego Bay United's new coach, Brazilian Neidier Dos Santos, says while not ideal he is fairly comfortable with the position his team is in at the end of the first round of the Red Stripe Premier League.

The Montegonians, who spent a large portion of the first round in the relegation zone, ended on a relative high on Sunday when they clipped Arnett Gardens 2-1 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

The result moved Montego Bay to 10 points and though still in 11th position and in the relegation zone, it moved them within nine points of league leaders Tivoli Gardens.

"It is my fourth game in charge of the team. However, despite playing well in our previous three matches, this is our first win with me in charge," said Dos Santos, who last season coached Village United at one stage.

"We drew 0-0 with Humble Lion in my first game, lost 1-0 to Highgate and, after leading 2-0, went down 3-2 to Reno.

"So we have gradually been improving, and to see us come here and dig deep really says we are on the right track. We are close to the bottom of the table, but we are still in striking distance of the leaders and that is the most important thing," he declared.

Third coach

Dos Santos is the third coach who has been employed at the Montego Bay-based club, with St James High coach, Pastor Hugh Solomon, being the first and Dr, Dean Weatherley, who is now Dos Santos' assistant, the second.

In Sunday's encounter, Montego Bay got off to a flying start when Rohan Bernard netted in the fifth minute of play.

The goal caught Arnett Gardens off guard and though taking the game to the visitors, the result remained the same until the break.

Arnett Gardens, who started the day in ninth position, would have broken into the top five if they had won.

They brought on Leon Strickland to add firepower to their attack, but despite creating at least three clear goalscoring chances, the home team was not able to pull back a goal.

This provided Montego Bay with the opportunity to increase their lead, an opportunity they took gleefully in the 58th minute when forward Maurico Gordon outpaced defender Dwayne Gordon and fired low past the otherwise outstanding Damion Hyatt in goal.

Arnett Gardens did manage to pull back a goal in the 67th minute through substitute Nicholas Dodd, but the goal proved futile, as led by good goalkeeping from Jacomena Barrett and in general stout defending, Montego Bay were able to hold on.

"It was a game of missed chances for us," said Arnett Gardens' coach, Paul 'Tegat' Davis.

"But it was not a bad first round. We found a momentum in our last four to five games and it is just a pity to end this way. We just have to now turn our attention to the second round," he asserted.