Jamaica Observer | Sanjay Myers
HARBOUR View FC striker Brian Brown exhibited a superb series of one-touch finishing to nab a hat-trick and lift his team to a 3-0 lashing of hosts Cavalier SC in the rescheduled Red Stripe Premier League game on Wednesday at Stadium East.
The former daCosta Cup schoolboy star, who scored in the 60th, 71st and 81st minutes, was largely aided by a tactical change in the second half that saw Xavian Virgo switched from a midfield position to his customary right-back role.
The win pushed Harbour View into second position on 17 points, only two behind Montego Bay United, after nine rounds of matches. Cavalier remained in sixth place on 13 points.
Harbour View coach Harold Thomas, who saw his team get off to a scratchy start to the season, praised Brown’s eye for goal and expressed pleasure that the second-half adjustment reaped the necessary rewards.
“The finishing from him was really good. We were working on it (plans we had), but we didn’t have it like we anticipated we would in the first half. The game needed some width and we opted to go for Virgo and I’m happy it worked almost immediately for us,” Thomas said.
Cavalier coach David Laylor said his team blundered in defence and in attack.
“We didn’t score the chances we had and they scored. We have to take the chances. And poor defensive work on the flanks also hurt us. Definitely we have to make the adjustments moving forward,” Laylor told the Jamaica Observer.
Early in the encounter, the in-form Girvon Brown missed a good opportunity to put Cavalier into the lead, while minutes later at the other end, the visitors’ John-Ross Campbell watched as his deflected free kick kissed the woodwork and bounded out of play.
The teams went to the break goalless, but fifteen minutes into the second half, Harbour View went ahead.
Just moments after some fans were calling for Virgo to be deployed at right back, the coaching staff did just that and the result was virtually instantaneous as the national representative served a swirling cross that was headed in neatly by the unmarked Brown.
In a similar move 11 minutes later, Harbour View doubled their lead. This time, Joel Senior fed a short free kick to Virgo, who crossed sweetly, and again Brown was on hand to nod past opposing goalkeeper Jovell Plunkett with minimal fuss.
Nine minutes before the end, Brown completed the hat-trick when he sensationally volleyed home from Harbour View ‘keeper Devon Haughton’s long-range pass.
In the other rescheduled game on Wednesday, former champions Portmore United (six points) ended 0-0 with visitors Rivoli United (12) at Ferdie Neita Park.
Teams:
Cavalier — Jovell Plunkett, Deno Schaffe (Paul Garricks 69th), Andre Forbes, Claudious Blackburn, Kirk Fletcher, Donovan Alveranga, Jeffrey Henry (Jemar Thomas 63rd), Girvon Brown, Geovaunie Samuda, Dwayne Holmes, Norman Bailey (Oshane Jenkins 76th).
Subs not used: Odean Clarke, Conroy Johnson, Kemar Shaw, Romario Constant
Booked: Schaffe (20th), Alveranga (ejected-90+3)
Harbour View — Devon Haughton, Damarley Oliver (Davian Thorpe 83rd), Montrose Phinn, Dicoy Williams, Kemar Lawrence, Xavian Virgo, Keith Kelly, Joel Senior, John-Ross Edwards, McKaully Tulloch (Donovan Edwards 82nd), Brian Brown (Brian Cunningham 89th).
Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Kevaughn Frater, Clifton Waugh, Dejanni Isaacs
Booked: None
Referee: Gawane Scott
Assistant Referees: Keble Williams and Omar Mills
Fourth Official: Kevin Thomas
Match Commissary: Ainsley Sharpe