MAY PEN, Clarendon — Coach Jeffrey Hewitt has suggested that the ease with Portmore United has readjusted to life in the Red Stripe Premier League is a testament to the club’s thriving youth system.

Following a season in the second tier, the St Catherine side has returned to the top flight with a bang, taking 14 points from a possible 21 in the first seven games.

They currently share top spot with Montego Bay United, who have a better goal difference, in the 12-team competition.

But Hewitt noted that while they are a promoted team, they aren’t necessarily a new team. “We have a lot of experience,” he explained, following Portmore’s goalless draw with Humble Lion at the Middlesex International College on Sunday.

He added: “Yes, the majority of these players are young, but they came through the ranks, from the Under-15s to the Under-21s, and they know the philosophy and customs of the club. So once we got back to the Premier League we had no doubt that we could survive with them.”

In their seven games so far, the former five champions have won four, drawn two and lost one (to fellow promoted side UWI FC), while scoring six goals and conceding two.

Hewitt said that while they are generally pleased with those stats, there is more work to be done. “There are still some areas that we need to improve in,” he said, “but we’ll continue to put in the work until we’re satisfied.”

In Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate, Portmore were the dominant side, but failed to convert their advantage to goals.

Visitors Humble Lion weren’t outclassed. However, they failed to get a firm grip on the contest and wasted the few goalscoring chances they created.

Yet, like his opposite number Hewitt, coach Linval ‘Pala’ Wilson expressed mild satisfaction with the result, which left his team in mid-table, but only two points clear of the relegation zone.

TEAMS:

Portmore United — Shaven Sean Paul, Damano Solomon, Upston Edwards, Kareem Manning, Roberto Johnson, Ewan Grandison, Michael Binns (Suelae McCalla 64th), Omar Daley (Molique Foster 90th+1)Ricardo Morris, Paul Wilson, Rodian Jenning (Cleon Pryce 70th).

Subs not used: Tyrone Williams, Ryan Wellington, Jovan East, Sievon Thompson.

Booked: Grandison (45th), Daley (69th)

Humble Lion — Alien Whittaker, Ajuran Brown, Hugh Howell, Kevon Reid, Gregory Lewis, Andrew Vanzie, Ricardo Cousins, Levaughn Williams (Jermaine Christian 71st), Kemeel Wolfe (Devon Hodges 60th), Wolry Wolfe (Dwayne Campbell 63rd), Francois Swaby.

Subs not used: Sanchez Lloyd, Fabian Pascoe, Michael Moreland, Kevaughn Isaacs.

Booked: Lewis (22nd), Howell (69th)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistants: Lloyd Reader, Oyinco McTaggart

Fourth Official: Oshane Nation

Match Commissary: Norman Blair