Lukewarm Portmore nail Boys’ Town to cross
Leaders Portmore United picked up where they left off in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) as they got by Boys’ Town 2-0 in a lukewarm contest at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.
Goals from substitutes Jermie Lynch (79th minute) and Roshane Sharpe (88th) spared the blushes of the former champions who were made to work for all three points by the relegation-threatened ‘Red Brigade’.
The win, which is Portmore United’s third on the trot, saw them extend their lead atop the standings as they moved to 56 points, 11 ahead of reigning champions Arnett Gardens.
Meanwhile, the defeat virtually signalled the writing on the wall for Boys’ Town, who remain at the foot of the 12-team standings on 17 points with five games remaining in the preliminary phase.
In other games, Tivoli Gardens returned to winning ways and provisionally moved to third on 43 points, following a 1-0 win over the other relegation-threatened team Sandals South Coast (19 points) at STETHS.
Montego Bay United also provisionally moved into fifth position on 37 points after their 2-1 win over Reno FC, who slipped to seventh on 36 points.
Portmore United came into the contest with high expectations, and though eventually coming away comfortably in the end, they did not have things all their way as Boys’ Town looked the better team at the end of a goalless first half.
The Shavar Thomas-coached Portmore United gradually came into their own on the resumption, but were still kept at bay by a pesky Boys’ Town outfit at the hour mark.
The Collie Smith Drive-based team should have gone in front in the 69th minute when Jamiel Hardware played in a weighted cross to Michael Campbell, who steered his effort high and wide.
Nine minutes later at the other end, Portmore United broke away down the right channel through Shai Smith, whose intended cross was handled inside the area by Andrew Peddlar.
Lynch then stepped up and calmly placed the 12-yard kick low to the left off a diving Rushane Campbell in goal for Boys’ Town.
With the goal seemingly knocking the wind out of them, the Andrew Price-conditioned Boys’ Town struggled to find a response and found themselves further behind two minutes from time.
Sharpe’s stinging one-time right-footed effort proved too hot to handle for the hapless custodian Campbell after arriving on the end of a delightful through pass from Captain Ewan Grandison.
And it could have ended 3-0, but Chevany Willis’s effort from the top of the 18-yard box came back off the upright.
Teams:
Portmore United — Kemar Foster, Ewan Grandison, Javon East(Jermie Lynch 63rd), Saneekie Burton, Venton Evans (Roshane Sharpe 75th), Chevany Willis, Shai Smith(Shaquille Dyer 85th), Osani Ricketts, Roberto Johnson, Kemar Phillpotts, Rosario Harriott.
Subs not used: Eric Edwards, Henrico Ricketts, Kemo Gayle, Demario Phillips
Booked: Ricketts (31st & 83rd (red)
Boys’ Town — Rushane Campbell, Anyhony Dawes, Wayne Ellis, Pierre McPherson, Daemon Benjamin, Patrick Scott(Javanni Campbell 88th), Andrew Peddlar, Xavian Virgo, Tarrique Campbell(Bebeto McDonald 61st), Michael Campbell(Shaquille Bradford 84th), Jamiel Hardware.
Subs not used: Shavon Wilson, Damion Goldbourne, Kevon Wilson, Kenardo Smith
Booked: Ellis (30th), Peddlar (78th)
Referee: Cardella Samuels
Assistants: Stephanie Yee Sing, Kemar Bailey
Fourth Official: Nerissa Goldson
Match Commissary: Ainsley Sharpe
— Sherdon Cowan