Harbour View FC put their Red Stripe Premier League opening season loss behind them with 2-1 victory over Boys’ Town FC at the Barbican playing field on Sunday.
A goal in each half from Tevin Scott (45th minute) and Andrew Gutzmore (55th) showed Harbour View FC the way with the narrow win against a fighting Boys’ Town whose Shamar Nicholson scored from the penalty spot in the 84th minute to keep the game competitive to the end.
Harbour View Head Coach Ludlow Bernard was pleased with the response of his players following their opening day loss.
“This is a young group, so although they would have lost the first game, we still have to keep working with them because some of them are pretty inexperienced at this level. Ahead of the game we told the players that this is winnable and we have to capitalise.
“I am, therefore, pleased that they applied themselves for the most part in a manner to take the three points and gain for us our first win,” he said.
Boys’ Town Head Coach Andrew Price said he was satisfied with aspects of his team’s play.
“We made several mistakes that gifted the victory to Harbour View. But in the same breath, I liked the fight I got from my youngsters during the game. They are a young team and with the right application they are going to learn and most of their learning will come while they are engaged out on the field of play,” noted Price.
Both teams lost their opening game and went at each other with great spirit, but Boys’ Town were first to show intent. Nicholson, leading the attack for Boys’ Town, forced Mark Bryan in goal for Harbour View to hold onto a power-packed drive from the edge of the centre circle when the game was a mere two minutes old.
The early threat seemed only to incensed the visitors’ drive and they raise the ante and it was opposing goalkeeper Kirk Porter who was kept busier of the goalkeepers. Boys’ Town, who were already probing, responded in like manner matching Harbour View in the middlefield, but fell down in the final third.
Andrew Allen, Michael Campbell and Claudious Blackburn, the former Harbour View player, kept the Boys’ Town forward thrust active, while Nicholson, Peter Keys and Campbell led the ‘Red Brigade’ response.
But a slip-up in defence at a most crucial time in the final seconds of the one minute added before the break, let Boys’ Town down, as Scott sneaked in to put Harbour View ahead from close range.
Ten minutes into the second half, Harbour View found Boys’ Town loose at the back and went two goals up as Gutzmore struck.
Teams
Boys’ Town FC — Kirk Porter, Rupert Murray, Ricardo Dennis, Kevon Wilson,Trevin Garnett, Lennox Cargill (Giovannie Palmer 82nd) Andrew Allen, Claudious Blackburn (Michael Blyden 66th). Michael Campbell, Peter Keys (Jahvon Howell 66th), Shamar Nicholson.
Subs not used: Shavon Howell, Dean Edwards, Shevon Richards, Shamar Price
Booked: Allen (41st)
Harbour View FC — Mark Bryan, Damarley Oliver, Rosario Harriott, Richcardo Harriott, Andrew Gutzmore (Andre Messam 72nd) Omar Palmer, Kemar Bennett, Ross Burton (Dean Andre Thomas 68th), Dario Stewart, Daniel Green, Trevin Scott (Ranique Muir 72nd).
Subs not used: Joel Johnson, Daminan Anderson, Bryan English, Jaleel Chamberlain
Booked: Palmer (46th)
Referee: Odette Hamilton
Assistant Referees: Stephanie Dale-Yee Sing, Terrence McKenzie
Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings
Match Commissioner: Martin Lyn
Source: The Jamaica Observer