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Victory at last! - Dunbeholden pull off relegation escape
April 29, 2025
By virtue of their win over Portmore United FC on Sunday, their first victory in 12 games, Dunbeholden FC have secured their place in next season's Jamaica Premier League (JPL) football competition as they are now mathematically safe from relegation.
Dunbeholden blanked Portmore United 1-0 in a Portmore derby at Dunbeholden Sports Complex.
Damion Binns scored the all-important goal for the victors in the 49th minute of play.
The result meant Dunbeholden moved up to ninth in the league standings on 37 points, four points clear of the relegation zone with one game left in the regular season.
Craig Richards, assistant coach of Dunbeholden, said the victory was long overdue as they snapped their 11-game winless run.
"We have been trying to get this victory for some time now so all the players, the management and all the staff are quite aware of what we came here for," he said in a post-match interview.
"We got what we came for and the guys fought hard. We had the better play from ball one, we created a few chances but we didn't score."
He added, "The second half, we started positively as well and the goal came so we're very happy."
Richards explained they knew a win, paired with favourable results in other games across the league, would be enough to secure Dunbeholden's safety.
"We knew that a win would have taken us into a safe spot," he said.
"We have been waiting for this victory for some time now and we're very happy. It's the 12th game in the round and we got it, and right now we can say we're safe."
Richards also reflected on the team's performance throughout the regular season as he believes it as not indicative of the quality of players at the club.
Dunbeholden currently hold a record of 10 wins, seven draws and 21 defeats.
It is a far cry away from their performance last season, which had seen them placing just six points shy of a spot in the top-six playoffs.
The assistant coach pointed to the club's managerial upheavals and various decisions made as the reason behind their poor record.
COACHING DILEMMA
Dunbeholden had started the season with head coach Phillip Williams at the reins, as he replaced the outgoing Lenworth Hyde, who had made the switch to Vere Phoenix.
Williams would only last two games, however, as he tendered his resignation because of commitments at St Andrew Technical High School, before being replaced by Byjeon Thomas in September last year.
Thomas would tender his resignation four months later after a string of poor performances, which opened the door for Harold Thomas to take over the reins, bringing some stability to Dunbeholden's game of managerial musical chairs.
"Where we are at now, it is not the indication of the type of players we have and our disposal," said Richards.
"It's just unfortunate that we have made quite a number of errors throughout the season and it affected our game plan and affected our results."
The Portmore-based club will see out their final game of the season against Waterhouse FC on Sunday at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium.
