Howard Walker | Jamaica Observer
HARBOUR View’s surge to the top of the Red Stripe Premier League coincides nicely with Brian Brown’s rise to the top of the goalscoring chart.
Harbour View, with their sixth consecutive win and eighth of their last nine games, have opened up a four-point lead atop of the standing on 26 points with a 2-1 win over Boys’ Town.
Meanwhile, Brown, 19, a former Rusea’s High standout, has taken his goalscoring tally to a league-high nine goals, with strikes in the 49th and 57th minutes.
Brown, who has scored three more goals than last season’s golden boot winner Jermaine Anderson, believes he has what it takes to stay on top having gained experience from last season.
“That’s the aim to beat everyone in the goalscoring and I will keep scoring as long as I get the chance,” said Brown.
“These goals have lifted my game and help me to play more confident and execute. I will continue to shoot, and I know I will score,” he said.
But the youngster, who scored over 40 goals in the rural area daCosta Cup a few seasons ago and had a trial stint with English premier league club Aston Villa, is not getting carried away.
Brown opened the scoring for the Stars of the East, ramming home after a Joel Senior corner fell nicely at his feet. He then doubled the advantage after goalkeeper Leon Goffe spilled a long-range effort from Nicholas Beckett and fired home.
Michael Campbell had replied for Boys’ Town in the 78th minute tapping home an Asrick Samuels right-sided cross setting the stage for a tense final few minutes.
But Harbour View held on comfortably, despite losing McKaully Tulloch in time added on for picking up his second yellow card moments before the game finished.
Boys’ Town, which was losing their sixth game of the season, stayed in ninth spot on 13 points and are losing a lot of grounds to the leaders
Coach Andrew Price lamented the defensive errors that cost his team at least a share of the points.
“When you give up simple mistakes it really hurts because we were very much in the game. We were competitive throughout and got several opportunities in the first half and didn’t put them away. We were still milking and grinding still searching for the equaliser but it want to be today,” he said.
Having now opened up a four-point lead atop of the standings, coach Harold Thomas, is not taking anything for granted.
“Early days yet, (and) this league won’t get going until around February, so what we are trying to do is put ourselves in position for the back stretch,” said Thomas.
TEAMS:
HARBOUR VIEW — Devon Haughton, Clifton Waugh, Dicoy Williams, Xavian Virgo, Kemar Lawrence (Nicholas Beckett 49th), Damarley Oliver, Keith Kelly (Donovan Edwards 74th), Joel Senior, John Ross-Edwards, McKaully Tulloch, Brian Brown (Ranique Muir 63rd).
Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Brian Cunningham, James Durrant, Dejanni Isaacs.
Booked: Tulloch (18th), (90+1)
BOYS’ TOWN — Leon Goffe, Asrick Samuels, Wayne Ellis, Carlos Wright, Victor Thompson (Hugh Evans 70th), Daemion Benjamin, Garfield Gillespie, Renae Lloyd, Michael Campbell, Marvin Stewart, Shane Edwards (Fabian Francis 70th).
Subs not used: Kirk Porter, Trevin Garnett, Richard Clarke, Ajuma Johnson, Ricardo Dennis.
Booked: Samuels (14th), Edwards (68th), Wright (80th), Ellis (90th)
Referee: Dwight Royal
Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Antonette Williams.
Fourth Official: Raymond Bogle
Match Commissary: Elaine Walker Brown