Defending Red Stripe Premier League champions Portmore United registered only their second win of the new season when they stopped the previously unbeaten Humble Lion Football Club 2-0 at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Goals from Corey Burke and Rondee Smith secured all three points for Portmore, who moved up to six points with consecutive wins after a nightmare start that saw them lose their first three games of the new campaign.

Humble Lion could count themselves unlucky after a bright start to the game where they dominated their opponents and created a few good chances, the best of which fell to Girvon Brown. The tall striker fluffed the opportunity when one on one with Shaven Paul, his tame effort proving an easy take for the Portmore custodian.

Corey Burke was not so generous, however, and lobbed the advancing Jeadine White to put Portmore 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute after Kirk Duckworth had misjudged the bounce of a long ball that had been booted up field.

Rohan Richards came closest after that, a rasping drive went just wide of the far post as Paul dived to his right, clutching at air.

It was the first time Portmore United were leading a game at the half-time break sincethe start of the season and their coach Ricardo Gardner would no doubt have been pleased.

An unmarked Brown missed another chance early in the second half after Kenneil Hyde picked him out with a good pass inside the Portmore area. Brown’s glancing header packed very little power and went wide of the target.

Rondee Smith then made the game safe for the champions in the 56th minute. He capitalised on two Humble Lion players colliding with each other inside the Portmore half, latched onto the loose ball and blew by the last defender before racing to goal and slipping the ball past the advancing White.

Hugh Howell had to be at his defensive best to deny Burke a second goal and his team’s third, as he bore down on goal.

Levaughn Williams had a glorious opportunity to get a goal back for his team but mis-controlled the ball three yards from goal after being picked out nicely by Andre Clennon.

Things got worse for Humble Lion when Williams was shown a red card in the 85th minute for violent conduct. Humble Lion Head Coach Andrew Price was also given a red card by referee Steffon Dewar for foul and abusive language as he vehemently disagreed with the decision of the match officials.

Two goals down and a man down left the visitors with a mountain to climb.

The day then ended in the worse possible way for the team from Clarendon when Duckworth was also given a red card for bringing down Smith as he raced towards goal. Duckworth was ruled the last man back and subsequently dismissed by Dewar.

The referee then blew the final whistle to signal the end of the game immediately after sending off Duckworth.

Teams:

Portmore United — Shaven Paul, Ryan Wellington, Damian Williams (Siegel Knight 70th), Cory Burke, Andre Lewis, Osani Ricketts, Romaine Brackenridge, Rondee Smith, Emelio Rousseau, Shai Smith (Roshane Sharpe 73rd), Kareem Banton (Romaine Bowers 84th)

Subs not used: Kemar Foster, Hardley Barnes, Jehvonte Hoquee, Sheldon McKoy

Booked: Cory Burke (19th), Williams (25th)

Humble Lion — Jeadine White, Kenneil Hyde, Kirk Duckworth, Andrew Vanzie, Rohan Richards, Levaughn Williams, Lorenzo Lewin, Andre Clennon (Corey Hylton 81st), Hugh Howell, Girvon Brown (Jason Wright 61st), Gregory Lewis (Shamar Rhoden 40th)

Subs not used: Afiba Chambers, Jason Wright, Dennis Taylor, Leonardo Jebbison

Booked: Vanzie (19th), Howell (58th), Williams (ejected 85th), Duckworth (ejected 90th+4)

Referee: Steffon Dewar

Assistant referees: Richard Washington, Kemar Gayle

Fourth official: Kesa Plummer

Match commissioner: Fitzroy Reid