Harbour View……………….4 Spence (42nd), Campbell (45th), Taylor (77th), Edwards (90th) Village United………………0
TOP striker Fabian Taylor celebrated his 31st birthday on Wednesday with another stunning goal to propel Harbour View to a crushing 4-0 win over Village United in their Digicel Premier League (DPL) game at the Compound.
Taylor, who scored a scorcher against Boys’ Town two weeks ago, collected a ball just outside the box with his back to goal, turned, and when everybody thought he was going to pass, curled a beautiful left-footer into the top corner of the net.
By that time, in the 77th minute, Harbour View were cruising on a three-goal lead. Earlier, the powerful Jahmali Spence prodded home from close range in the 42nd before teeing-up Romario Campbell for the second in the 45th.
Harbour View’s captain Richard Edwards, who rarely scores, could be heard telling his teammates he wanted a goal. He abandoned his central midfield role and camped on the halfway line determined to get a run at goal, and he did. His fast counter-attacking move saw John Ross Edwards releasing him down the flank.
He sprinted forward, and with one defender to beat, dummied to the left before moving right and firing a low grounder past the hapless Deuandre Alvaranga in the 90th. Richard celebrates his 28th birthday, two days later on Friday, April 15th.
It was very good result for a Harbor View which secured third spot in the DPL with 57 points, eight behind Boys’ Town and 11 adrift of leaders Tivoli Gardens, 68.
The ‘Stars of the East’ are seven points ahead of fifth-placed Waterhouse, on 50, with two games remaining. It was a game of academic interest only and the fans never really turned out for the late kick-off , but that didn’t prevent Harbour View from playing some positive football.
However, the same could not be said of the Trelawny-based Village, who turned up with only four reserves and were clearly only going through the motions.
It was Village’s third consecutive loss since the start of the fourth round and they remain sixth on 43 points after barely scraping into the top six and avoiding the drop zone.
Village are clearly the ‘beating sticks’ of the Elite group and coach Gregory Palmer should find the strength to motivate this team for even one win among the top teams to salvage some pride.
Harbour View — Devon Haughton, Christopher Harvey, Montrose Phinn, Robert Williams, Kemar Lawrence, Richard Edwards, Romario Campbell (Andre Steele 67th), Jermaine Hue, Kemeel Wolfe (Marcelino Blackburn 56th), Jahmali Spence (John-Ross Edwards 76th), Fabian Taylor. Subs not used: Roybert Clarke, Ranique Muir, Kimorllie Brissett, Nicholas Beckett. Booked: Robert Williams 87th
Village United — Keith Hamilton (Jerome Lawson 45th), Orlando McBayne, Cordel Simpson, Andre Moore (Deaundre Alvaranga 80th), Shavar Campbell, Leon Irving, Andreas Nickel, Greame Green, Aldain Grant, Romando Anderson (Shaunanon McKenzie 75th), Ranique Francis.
Subs not used: Nicholas Falconer Booked: Graeme Green 50th, Ronique Francis 50th)
Referee: Wilverglen Lamey Assistant Referees: Stephen Brown, Keeble Williams Fourth Official: Clint Reid Match Commissary: Horace Lewis