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Reon Nelson notched his 12th goal of the season while Portmore United grabbed their 14th win to remain top of the Cash Plus Premier League goal scoring chart and table respectively. Nelson opened the scoring in the 16th minute for his fifth goal in two games following his four-timer against Tivoli Gardens last week. Striking partner Steven Morrissey sealed the win in the 45 minute for his fourth goal as Portmore United blanked St George’s SC 2-0 at the Ferdie Neita Park. Portmore maintained their narrow lead atop the standing on 50 points from 27 games including 14 wins, eight draws and five losses. Portland’s St George’s continued their poor away form suffering their 11th defeat of the season to be on 34 points in seventh spot.
Meanwhile Tivoli Gardens edged arch rival Arnett Gardens 1-0 in the feature game of the round at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Former national player Fabian Davis missed a 17th minute penalty for Arnett Gardens and three minute later Horace Sharpe saw red for elbowing an opponent. The visitors seized the initiative and Craig Stewart rifled in a beauty for Tivoli Gardens in the 28th minute which turned out to be the winner. It was sweet revenge for Tivoli Gardens which was hammered 0-4 by Arnett in the Western Union/Jackie Bell knockout competition in January. Tivoli Gardens secured their 15 win of the campaign to remain in second spot on 49 points from 27 games in what is becoming a two horse race. The unlucky Arnett Gardens was tasting defeat for the first time in 10 games under coach Jerome Waite and slumped two places to 10th on 30 points. The former champions are just three points above the relegation zone.
At Jarrett Park, the visiting Village United continued their impressive third round revival blanking Seba United 2-0. The Trelawny-based Village which climbed out of the relegation zone only last week, was securing their eight win of the season, five of which occur in this round. Village leapfrogged Arnett Gardens into ninth spot on 32 points, the same as Sporting Central Academy. Seba, out of St James, remained in sixth place on 34 points.
At Brancourt in Clarendon, home team Sporting Central Academy stunned Waterhouse 3-0 for one of their most impressive win. Goals by Ian Palmer (50th), Hughan Gray (64th) and Winston Griffiths (86th), propelled Sporting to their eighth victory and into eighth spot on 32 points. Ian Palmer’s cross was deflected by a defender and wrongfooted goalkeeper Richard McCullum. Hughan Gray pounced on a defensive mix-up inside the area to score his sixth of the season, before substitute Winston Griffiths drove the final nail into Waterhouse’s coffin, finishing off a lovely build up. Waterhouse fell a spot to fourth place on 39 points while drifting 11 points behind the leader Portmore United.
Over at the STETH field, it is a story of two teams heading in opposite direction as the surging Boys’ Town clipped Reno FC 2-1. Denzil Watson opened the scoring in the 42nd minute for Boys’ Town before Nyron Davis levelled the score in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot. But cometh the hour, cometh the man, and veteran striker Oneil McDonald scored his ninth of the season in the 81st minute. It was Boys’ Town 10th victory putting the former champion into third spot on 42 points, only eight behind the leader, with ever chance of lifting their first league title since 1989. While Boys’ Town are heading to the top Reno remained in the second relegation spot on 27 points, three behind 10th-placed Arnett Gardens, and four above bottom team August Town.
Champions Harbour View all but conceded their title scoring a 90th minute goal to salvage a 2-2 draw with August Town at UWI. Rafiek Thomas gave the Harbour View a 13th minute lead but the Jermaine Simpson in the 36th as the half ended 1-1. Substitute Mitchily Waul, on loan from Harbour View, came on in the 67th minute a minute later he gave August Town a 68th minute lead and what seemed like the winner. But in the 90th minute another, Marcelino Blackburn, came on for Jermaine Taylor in the 81st minute and nine minute he headed home a Ronny Amaguana cross for a share of the point. Harbour View, the Caribbean Club champion inched to 38 points in fifth place, some 12 points off the lead with 11 games remaining. It was also a poor display from Harbour View as they prepare for DC United form the USA in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday. August Town remained rooted to the bottom off the 12-team league on 23 points and are staring relegation in the face. |