A point for desperate Portmore, Rivoli
Rivoli United and Portmore United both failed to improve their positions in the Digicel Premier League after playing to a 0-0 draw at the Prison Oval yesterday.
Rivoli are on the hunt for a top-six spot, while Portmore are battling their way out of the relegation zone.
Portmore coach Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell, was disappointed his team did not take maximum points.
“Had we been in a better position, I would have been happy with the point, but because of where we are, I am a little disappointed that we didn’t take three,” he said.
Rivoli coach, Oneil Thomas, was just happy for the point. “The two teams defended well… but we did not lose and that is the important thing,” he said.
After a cagey start, Kirk Ramsey got the first real chance, but he guided his header wide of the target from six yards, after 32 minutes into the match.
As the game grew, Rivoli looked the more threatening and Ramsey tested Garice McPherson with a towering header a few minutes later.
Portmore first real effort at goal came from veteran striker, Roen Nelson in the 38th minute, but his dipping volley just went over.
Ramsey should have given the host the lead before the break, but he blasted his shot wide of the target after Rivoli opened up the Portmore defence.
But just before the interval, Nelson wasted a glorious opportunity to give the visitors the lead, but he connected poorly with the delivery, skewing it well wide of the target.
Portmore came out more purposeful and five minutes after the break the out-of-form Ricardo Cousins slammed a half-volley from the edge of the area that sailed over the horizontal.
At the other end, Rivoli continued to be a concern for Portmore. In one instance Valentino Gardener should have done better with his downward header from close-range, but that was saved by McPherson.
Then seven minutes from time, McPherson had to be well-positioned to stop Calbert Coke’s rasping shot after he was set up by Hodges.
Teams:
Rivoli — Leon Goffe, Dwayne Parker, Ricardo Knight, Martin King (Devon Powell 72nd), Kemar Brown, David Lewis, Barrington Planter, Kirk Ramsey, Devon Hodges, Fabian Gordon, Valentino Gardener (Calbert Coke 79th).
Subs not used: M Henry, Owen Parker, T Warren, A Powell, D Planter
Booked: King (54th), Planter (68th)
Portmore — Anthony Modeste, Adrian Mitchell, Tyrone Sawyers, Andrae Campbell, Shauntel Mundle, Michael Binns, Ricardo Cousins 9Ricardo Webb 68th), Mario Swaby (Kemeel Wolfe 81st), Tremaine Stewart (Steven Morrisey 66th), Roen Nelson, Garice McPherson.
Subs not used: R Harriott, M Harrison, B Bayliss, D Kerr.
Booked: McPherson (57th), Binns (28th)
Referee: Kevin Morrison
Assistants: Malachi Brown and Mark Sullivan
Fourth Official: Tariq Parchment
Match Commissary: Norman Blair