Defending champions Harbour View closed the point gap on Portmore United on Sunday in the Digicel Premier League after defeating them 1-0 at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.
Despite drawing level with Portmore on 24 points, Harbour View are still stuck in fifth place, one below Portmore on goal difference. Rafeik Thomas was responsible for Harbour View’s winner with a 40th-minute strike.
In a first half whose moves were more suited for chess than football, Portmore looked the better team as they controlled possession and created more openings than the home team. But for all the possession and the openings created, Portmore United were unable to make them count.
Steven Morrissey in the ninth minute, and Ricardo Cousins in the 13th, had free kicks from good positions, but were denied by Robert Williams and goalkeeper Michard Barrett, respectively.
Rafe Wolfe, playing at right back, looked lively for the visitors when they ventured forward. A right-sided cross found captain Mario Swaby free about 20 yards from goal, but his shot was easily handled by Barrett in the 19th minute.
Portmore United continued to go at Harbour View, who were rescued by the alertness of Kemar A. Lawrence in the 45th minute. Central defender Williams had lost possession to Adoah Nickle just inside his 18-yard box. With goalkeeper Barrett exposed, Lawrence’s well-timed interception denied Nickle a shot on goal from an excellent position.
Harbour View made no mistake when their chance came in the 40th minute. Williams’ lovely left-footed cross was collected on the chest by Thomas just outside the 18-yard box, and he dribbled to his left inside the box before shooting left-footed across Gariece McPherson in goal.
Excellent chance
Harbour View had an excellent chance to go two up on the stroke of half-time when captain Marcelino Blackburn and Kemeel Wolfe combined well down the left side to create an opportunity for Lamar Nelson. The energetic midfielder headed high from just about the six-yard box.
The home team adopted a more aggressive posture in the second half and went on the attack. This almost paid immediate dividends, but Thomas wasted an excellent opportunity just three minutes into the half. Under no pressure at all, and with the goal at his mercy, he blasted a left-footer high. Seconds later he was to waste another opportunity from the right side by opting to dribble instead of shooting.
They continued to enjoy the better of play and could have extended the lead, but for poor decision making and faulty shooting.
Portmore introduced Tremaine Stewart and Roen Nelson who added energy to their team. Nelson set up Morrissey in the 90th minute, but his shot, which should have given them a share of the points, was denied by Barrett with a wonderful reflex save.
“Definitely we played the game that I wanted. We stayed behind the ball because the Portmore team were going to maintain possession: but we wanted them to do that in positions that were not dangerous to us.
Adjustments
“In the second half, we made some adjustments and started to press them a little earlier and higher up to see if we could get that second goal. Somehow it eluded us,” was how Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles, who was full of praise for his young team, summed up the performance.
Portmore’s Linval Dixon was disappointed, but gave credit to Harbour View.
“I think we were dominant in the early part of the game, but we allowed Harbour View to get back into it. But overall it was a good performance.
“We got chances where we should have come out with at least a point. You have to get something from the game. I think Harbour View really worked hard as a team and defended well to keep that 1-0 lead and we have to come again,” Dixon said.