PERKINSTON – In a rematch from a 3-3 tie in Ellisville back in late August, Friday night's clash once again lived up to the hype. 

No. 6 Jones defeated No. 15 Gulf Coast, 2-0, to hand the Bulldogs their first conference loss and give the Bobcats an important head-to-head win with three MACCC games remaining. 

Jones improved to 10-2-2 and 6-1-1 while MGCCC fell to 9-2-2 and 7-1 in MACCC play.

Scoreless into the 38th minute, Denim Lombard scissor kicked a rebound in after a save by the MGCCC keeper to put Jones on top 1-0. Luke Dickson's shot from the left wing was saved, but Lombard was in perfect position to hammer it home.

The lead held up late into the match when a free kick opportunity arose in front of the Bobcat bench. 

Callum Black sailed a perfect ball into the box that found the head of Cameron Chamberlain who hit it far post for the 2-0 lead in the 87th minute.

The Bobcat defense held MGCCC to just two shots on goal, both of them saved by Joshua Goodwin.

The teams combined for 25 fouls and five yellows, four on the Bobcats.

Jones hosts East Mississippi on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Northwest on Friday.