Boys’ Town FC kept their hopes alive in a bid to make it out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Maverley-Hughenden FC in a crucial Red Stripe Premier League encounter at Barbican Complex yesterday.

The important goal came from the head of Shamar Nicholson in the 90th+1 minute.

It was a well-earned victory by the ‘Red Brigade’, who played with 10 men for the last 27 minutes of the game, as they showed determination and the will to fight in what was a must-win match for them. Wayne Ellis was sent off in the 63rd minute of play.

With their second consecutive victory, the team coached by Andrew Price moved to 26 points, the same as Jamalco FC, who lost 0-1 to Reno, while Maverley-Hughenden remain in 10th position on 28 points. However, Boys’ Town have played one game less than both Jamalco and Maverley-Hughenden.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) lead the pack with 54 points, followed by Humble Lion FC (50 points), and Tivoli Gardens (49 points). Montego Bay United (47 points) were slated to travel to the Compound to play Harbour View in last night 7 o’clock kick-off.

It was not the start to this vital encounter that both teams were anticipating as they both failed to keep possession of the ball during the first exchanges. However, as the game progressed, Boys’ Town looked the more settled team and created some good scoring changes, but their attacking unit squandered the opportunities.

In the 35th minute, Nicholson shot wide of the left upright from inside the penalty area, and on the stroke of half-time Michael Campbell turned away from a Maverley-Hughenden defender but his left-footed shot went over the crossbar.

Maverley-Hughenden’s only scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 43rd minute when Nicholas Nelson, instead of passing the ball across an empty goal to Denardo Thomas, fired straight at Kirk Porter in goal for Boys’ Town.

Boys’ Town came close to breaking the deadlock when Nicholson, in front of an open goal, headed a loose ball wide of the left upright with Maverley-Hughenden’s goalkeeper Jovell Plunkett nowhere in sight.

Maverley-Hughenden had a glorious opportunity to send their opponents packing in the 77th minute, but Robert Fletcher’s strike in the 18-yard box was brilliantly saved by Porter.

Boys’ Town eventually got the winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time when Nicholson rose above two Maverley-Hughenden defenders and headed in the vital goal, sending his team into wild celebration.

“We knew that this was a must-win game for us and so we knew we had to win it. We got numerous opportunities and we really thought it was going to be one of those days where we were going to get a lot of chances and come up on the unlucky side of losing a game. But the players stuck to the task, they fought hard, and even when we went down to 10 men we were able to take the game to Maverley-Hughenden. We battled and battled, and in time added on, we scored, and I am very happy,” Price said.

Teams:

Boys’ Town — Kirk Porter, Kimarley Fray (Jahvon Howell 89th), Wayne Ellis, Kevon Wilson, Xavian Virgo, Daemion Benjamin, Garfield Gillespie, Michael Campbell (Andrew Allen 77th), Orlando Brown (Kurt Thomas 66th), Janiel Hardware and Shamar Nicholson

Sub not used: Shavon Wilson, Lennox Cargill, Chavaney Willis and Tarrique Campbell

Booked: Ellis (63rd-ejected)

Maverley-Hughenden — Jovell Plunkett, Robert Fletcher, Kasai Hinds, Robert Williams, Nicholas Nelson, Troy Moulton (Andrew Peddlar 73rd), Denardo Thomas, Andrew White, Akeem Brown (Cornelius Henry 65th), Phillip Peddie and Nicholas Scott

Sub not used: George Brown, Jamoy Sibbles, Shamari Dyer, Claudiuos Blackburn and Ricardo Thomas

Booked: Fletcher (69th)

Referee: Valdin Legister

Assistant Referees: Stacy-Ann Greyson and Richard Washington

Fourth Official: Oshane Nation

Match Commissioner: Margaret Sutherland