Real Mona coach criticises officiating after 5-0 JWPL semi-final loss

Real Mona Head Coach Neo Oxford has cut a noticeable figure in the Jamaica Women’s Premier League, bringing a strong personality and belief to a competition in which his team has quickly made an impact. After Saturday’s semi-final first leg, however, he said weak officiating prevented his developing squad from getting an even contest against reigning champions Frazsiers Whip.

Frazsiers Whip defeated Real Mona 5-0 at the UWI-JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence at The University of the West Indies, taking firm control of the JWPL semi-final tie.

Oxford’s first campaign in the league has already enhanced his reputation as a coach. Real Mona reached the last four after eliminating Cavalier FC, who were semi-finalists last season, and the achievement came with a squad averaging 17 years old. Oxford also carries a well-known football name, as his father Neville is regarded among Jamaica’s finest local players.

Despite the heavy scoreline against the three-time defending champions, Oxford said his players had reason to hold their heads high.

“Today was a hard one; however, [I am] still very proud and honoured to have been able to lead this set of young ladies to become history-makers. [The final score] might have been 5-0, but we challenged them,” Oxford told the Jamaica Observer after the match.

He then turned his attention to decisions made by the match officials, arguing that Real Mona had not been treated fairly.

“The football fraternity saw what we had to offer, and instead of doing it fairly, found another way to try and defeat us, and that’s through the officiating. Disgusting, if you ask me, and you wonder if it was in the male Premier League semi-final, would these mistakes just go away like that?

“However, we have a second leg to play. The girls are not disheartened; they are aware of where they are in their development and the mission remains the same,” Oxford said.

Frazsiers Whip again underlined the gap between themselves and the chasing pack with another forceful performance. Shanel Smith struck twice, finding the net in the 16th and 37th minutes, before JWPL leading scorer Christina Salmon added her 26th goal of the season in the 43rd minute.

Nevillegail Able scored in the 66th minute and Riquanna Richards added another in the 86th, leaving Frazsiers Whip with a major advantage before the return leg.

Frazsiers Whip Head Coach Courtney Dowdie said he had not expected to carry such a large margin into the second meeting.

“But that’s the way of the game. When you turn up to play, good things can go your way,” he told the Observer.

“We played well for most of the game, and we created a lot of chances in front of the goal, but we did not take the opportunities. Also, I thought the Real Mona team played well, and that’s the type of game that really brings out the best in your team,” said Dowdie.