AS promised, Head Coach Rudolph Speid masterminded the end of Portmore United’s unbeaten run, leading Cavalier to a 2-1 win in their Jamaica Premier League match at Stadium East yesterday.

Entering the 10th round of games, Portmore United were the only unbeaten team but, despite dominating for long periods, Cavalier struck the vital blows against the run of play.

“It was one of those difficult games because they are a difficult team to break down,” Speid told the Jamaica Observer. “The law of averages was always against them. We know to play in the moments — even when the games are hard, we’re gonna get results.

“What we did was make adjustments but, as I said before, we are comfortable playing without the ball so we just hung in there until we got our opportunities.”

With Portmore United dominating, Cavalier struck through Ronaldo Webster who glanced home a header from a corner kick in the 45th minute.

Emelio Rousseau’s looping shot brought Portmore level in minute 53 but, as he has been doing all season, Collin Anderson popped up with the winner for Cavalier, heading home at the near post for his league-high ninth goal of the season.

Cavalier, with their seventh win from 10 games, leapfrogged the inactive Mount Pleasant into the top spot on 22 points. Mount Pleasant are on 20 points with a game in hand to be played today.

Portmore, who have lost for the first time in 10 matches, slipped a spot to sixth on 15 points, and Head Coach Philip Williams is disappointed that their unbeaten run came to an end.

“It was inevitable that the run would have come to an end but how it came to an end was disappointing as we created a lot of chances, and the two goals that were scored against us were rather soft,” he said. “But, it’s the game. And if you get chances and don’t put them away, that will always hurt us.”

In another game yesterday, Humble Lions whipped Chapelton Maroons 3-0 and climbed two places into fourth spot on 17 points.

Dasha Satchewell, Raylan Paisely, and Levaughn Williams were the goalscorers in the Clarendon derby. Chapelton Maroons remain in 11th spot on eight points.

Teams

Cavalier: Vino Barclett, Ronaldo Webster, Jeovanni Laing, Kyle Ming, Richard King, Gadail Irving, Christopher Ainsworth, Đwayne Allen, Đwayne Atkinson (Orlando Russell, 74th), Collin Anderson (Nickache Murray 76th), Shaniel Thomas (Rojay Arthurs 87th)

Subs not used: Marvin Fagan, Mario Smith, Keyanni Jackson, Samuel Shakes, Jlody Smith

Booked: None

Portmore United: Bernardo Constant, Rodolph Austin, Stephen Young, Emelio Rousseau, Gawain Austin, Akeem Mullings (Okelo Howard, 78th), Jahien Rose, Sandino St Jean, Lester Joseph, Jahvon James (Jaheem Frazer 78th), Jhanni Flemmings

Subs not used: William Benjamin, Joel Jones, Seigle Knight, Shakeone Satchwell

Booked: Lester Joseph 43rd, Rodolph Austin 59th

Referee: Alexi Perry

Assistant referees: Jassett-Kerr Wilson, Ricardo McKenzie

Fourth official: Romaine McKnight

Match commissioner: Delroy Josephs