MONTROSE Phinn’s late goal rescued Harbour View from major humiliation at home on Sunday in their Digicel Premier League encounter against struggling August Town.

Kemel Mullings had fired the visitors ahead in the 55th minute, and his effort — before Phinn’s last-gasp strike — looked a winner by all indications.

Overall, it was a lacklustre affair, although Harbour View appeared to dominate ball possession.

Harbour View, far from their gilt-edge best in the attacking third, were also having problems in their defensive department. And with only 15 minutes clocked, August Town threatened their goal, but Mark Grant dragged his shot wide after dispossessing Christopher Harvey.

Lovel Palmer came the closest for the home team late in the half, but he blasted his shot over the crossbar after latching on to a precise ball from Jermaine Hue.

The second-half proved more eventful, and eight minutes after the restart Marcelino Blackburn thought he had the opener, but he was ruled offside after stabbing home Palmer’s deflected free-kick.

August Town then took the lead directly from that kick-off, as goalkeeper Devon Haughton’s kick upfield was left unattended by the Harbour View defenders and Mullings powered a half-volley past Dwayne Miller for the go-ahead goal.

Harbour View came close to an equaliser on the hour mark, but Rafiek Thomas’ header was deflected over from close-range by a defender.

As the home team pressed for the equalising goal, they made another defensive error which gave Aphas Bernard a clear chance at goal, but his effort failed to trouble Miller.

However, with three of the four minutes of added gone, Harbour View launched a speculative ball inside the area which was flicked on by Thomas and an overlapping Phinn was well-positioned stab home from six yards.

Teams

Harbour View — Dwayne Miller, Jaron Richards (Ranique Muir 79th), Montrose Phinn, Christopher Harvey, Kimarlee Brissett, Lovel Palmer, Marcelino Blackburn, Nicholas Beckett, Jermaine Hue, Andre Fagan (Rafiek Thomas 66th), Jeremy Lynch (John Ross Edwards 72nd).

Subs not used: C Waugh, F Campbell, Asteele, M Barrett

Booked: Blackburn (53rd), Lynch (68th) August Town — Devon Haughton, Ajuran Brown, Dean Paul Grandison, Kevin Henziel, Fabian Anderson, Jamalie Richards, Raymond Williamson, Mark Grant Terrence Allen 63rd), Akeem Thenstead (Jermaine Simpson 78th), Kemel Mullings (Donovan Bernard 78th), Aphas Bernard. Subs not used: S Pinnock, K Cockburn, D Newton, E Shaw, O Simms Booked: Richards (66th), Thenstead (70th), Brown (90th) Referee: Dave Peterkin Assistants: Garnet Page & Richard Washington Fourth Official: Cordella Samuels Match Commissary: Richard Nathan

— Livingston Scott