Mount Pleasant take command

Mount Pleasant Football Academy took a step closer towards qualifying for the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final, following a decisive 5-1 first leg win over Defense Force of Trinidad at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad yesterday.

Warner Brown, in his first start since coming back from injury, took only five minutes to open the scoring. Raheem Edwards (15th, 57th) added two more goals and Shaquile Bradford and Kimonie Bailey scored one each to ensure the visitors enter next week's second leg at home with one foot in the final. K. Thomas (90+7) scored for the home team in the last minute of eight added for second half stoppages.

FIRST EFFORT

Demario Phillips had the first effort on goal for Mount Pleasant, but his free kick from a tight angle was denied by goalkeeper Christopher Biggette.

However, Brown would put the Jamaicans in front five minutes into the match, after combining with Daniel Green and firing low past Biggette. Although the goal was initially ruled out for offside, it was eventually confirmed.

Raheem Edwards would extend Mount Pleasant's lead 10 minutes later, latching on to Jamoi Topey's long ball over the top and volleying past the advancing Biggette.

Jahshaun Anglin came close to adding a third, but his deflected strike was denied by Biggette.

Skilful Trinidad and Tobago international Kevin Molino had Defense Force's best chance of the half, but he fired into the side netting.

On the resumption, Brown had a great chance to add another goal early in the half, but dragged his shot across goal wide.

However, Edwards would get Mount Pleasant's third after 57 minutes, when he picked up a pass from Brown and placed a low shot into the far corner across Biggette from 12 yards.

Edwards nearly had his hat-trick in the 73rd minute, when Brown played a ball across the area to find him at the far post. However, his effort was deflected.

The Trinidadian club nearly pull one back minutes later but Molina shot was blocked by Tafari Chambers in goal.

Shaquile Bradford put the game out of reach five minutes from the end, when he ran on to a pass and slotted past Biggette for Mount Pleasant's fourth.

Bailey put the icing on the cake with a fine individual goal in the second minute of stoppage time.