Jamalco, Four Paths early pacesetters in Major League

BY OSHANE TOBIAS Observer writer

Saturday, February 18, 2012

MAY PEN, Clarendon — Promoted sides Jamalco and Four Paths continue to exceed expectations in this season's Clarendon/Captain's Bakery Major League, with contrasting mid-week results keeping the duo atop the standings.

Jamalco, promoted as winners of last season's Division One competition, edged ahead of Four Paths in the title race after rallying for a dramatic 2-1 win over Wood Hall on Wednesday at the Wembley Sports Club in Hayes.

Four Paths, runners-up in last season's Division One, had failed to improve on their one-point advantage after playing to a 1-1 tie in Milk River a day earlier.

The results mean Jamalco (15) moved one point clear of their fellow newcomers at the top and two ahead of neighbours New Bowens in third place.

At Wembley, both teams frustrated each other for majority of the game and a 0-0 stalemate appeared to be the only result after 81 minutes.

But, a frantic nine-minute finale was to follow, with Jamalco just about snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Mortel Pinnock slotted Wood Hall into the lead on 81 minutes, before substitute Javier Daley rescued the hosts with two goals in the last two minutes.

At Path Side in Milk River, Kyon Hawkes' 21st-minute strike gave Four Paths a 1-0 lead, but Marlon Allen's side later conceded the equaliser courtesy of a Jameal Forrester 57th-minute goal.

The result will be more pleasing to the visitors -- who, despite losing their place at the summit, maintained their unbeaten start -- than Milk River, who slipped further behind in the title race.

They were dropping points at home for the first time this season and now four points adrift of the leaders in fifth.

Meantime, former champions New Bowens narrowed the gap on the front-runners to two points despite giving up a two-goal half-time lead to end 2-2 with Rock River at Clarendon College in Chapelton.

Maxwell Patrick (23rd) and Daniel Callaghan (30th) scored seven minutes apart to give visitors New Bowens what looked like a commanding 2-0 lead at the break.

However, a well-taken second-half brace from Oraine Walters in the 51st and the 79th minutes sealed an unlikely point for the hosts, who remained in mid-table on seven points.

In another mid-week encounter, Original Hazard needed a last-minute winner from Damion Clarke to edge York Town, 2-1, which moved them further away from the drop zone.

Marlon Slowly shot Hazard into a 1-0 lead after just three minutes at the York Town Community Centre, before Odean Morgan restored parity in minute 68.

But just when the game seemed destined for a stalemate, Clarke popped up on the stroke of full-time to steal all three points for the visitors.