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Nelson bags hat-trick in Molynes’ 3-2 win
January 20, 2026
Nicholas Nelson registered a hat-trick on his return to Molynes United to lead the team to a 3-2 win over 10-man Tivoli Gardens in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Complex last night.
Nelson scored in the fourth, 51st and 54th minutes as Molynes continued their climb up the JPL standings, moving up three places to ninth on 20 points, two adrift of Tivoli in eighth.
Tivoli got their goals from Denville Watson (sixth) and Steve Clarke (82nd).
Nelson who spent last season at Mount Pleasant and the first half of this campaign at Dunbeholden, was delighted with his goalscoring form.
"Last night (Sunday), I told my team, and other people from last Thursday, that I am going to score more than one goal and I came out with a hat-trick," he said.
Molynes coach Jermaine Thomas was also pleased to have the proven goalscorer back at the club.
"You can't question his quality. He has been playing this league for a number of years, scoring a lot of goals and tonight (Monday) you saw some amount of competence and he really delivered," Thomas said.
The game got off to a blistering start, with Nelson firing Molynes into the lead after four minutes.
However, the lead did not last long as two minutes later Watson restored parity for Tivoli.
Although both teams remained competitive, it was Molynes who created the more clear-cut opportunities.
Livinton Cuesta, Marlon Pennicooke and Tyrique Wilson all missed good chances soon after before Tivoli asserted themselves and Requan Stoney wasted a good chance from Steve Clarke's cross.
Six minutes into the second half Molynes were awarded a penalty when Barrington Pryce fouled Wilson inside the area and Nelson dispatched the spot kick to put Molynes 2-1 in front.
Three minutes later Nelson completed his hat-trick, when goalkeeper Nicholas Clarke parried Matthew Ellis' shot into the path of the forward and he headed past the goalkeeper.
Tivoli then went a man down, as Alton Lewis saw red after his overly aggressive remonstration against the assistant referee, as he thought there was an offside on the play leading up to the goal.
Ten-man Tivoli pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute when Clarke stabbed home a loose ball in the area.
Tivoli continued to push forward but Watson blasted their best chance for an equaliser over from inside the six yards area.
"We started well. We managed to convert early but conceded a soft one," Thomas recounted. "Second half we made some changes and they worked."
Tivoli coach Jerome Waite reiterated the need for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
"The player was in an offside position that would have given him an advantage but we don't have VAR so we have to live with it," he commented.
