NPL Round #12 Wrap-Up

By  reporter@jsleague.net

Sunday, November 30th , 2008

Controversial goal earn Boys' Town close win over Arnett Gardens

 

 

 

A controversial but stupendous goal by Daemon Benjamin earned Boys' Town a hard-fought 1-0 win over arch rivals and neighbours, Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Benjamin took a quick free kick from some 45 metres, catching the entire Arnett team unaware in the 39th minute, prompting a prolong protest by the home team, arguing that the ball did not came to a stop and that the referee was attending to a player on the ground.

The game got rough and although only four yellow cards were issued tempers flared in Collie Smith Drive derby. The only constituency — South St Andrew — to have two teams in the premier league.

 

A few players were left bloodied and nursing injuries during several hard challenges.

Just like the first encounter, Boys' Town came out victorious by the same margin and control all bragging rights just now and probably for the entire season.

Boys Town, with their sixth win of the campaign, moved to 21 points, up a spot to fourth ahead of the idled Portmore United on 19 points.

Arnett Gardens, which was suffering their seventh defeat of the season, stayed on 11 points in ninth spot and continue to find goals hard to come by.

In 12 games this season they have scored only five times while conceding 10 and new player coach Fabian Davis might start to feel the heat.

 

Over at the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Trelawny,  leaders Harbour View clipped Village 2-1 to maintained their two point gap atop the standing.

Harbour View midfielder Lovel Palmer scored two goals in three minutes, netting in the 49th and 52nd minutes for his fifth and sixth goals of the season.

Omar Allen registered his third of the season replying for Village in the 77th minute but couldn't prevent Village from suffering their sixth defeat and fourth in their last five games.

Harbour View moved to 26 points from 12 games with their table topping eight win of the campaign. Village, which have won since October 19, stayed in eight spot on 12 points.

 

 

Meanwhile the dangerous Tivoli Gardens brushed aside new boys Meadhaven United 2-0 at the Constant Spring field to stay in touch with Harbour View.

Tivoli gardens took a while to break down a Meadhaven team playing with 10 men from the ninth minute after Rohan Reid was red carded for elbowing an opponent.

Tall defender Damion Gordon opened the scoring in the 76th minutes before Jermaine Taylor powerhouse made the game safe in the 88th minute.

Tivoli Gardens with their seventh win are on 24 points, just two behind Harbour View.

It was a bad weekend for Meadhaven's coach Alrick Clarke as he also lost 1-5 with Calabar High in the Walker Cup final to Excelsior on Saturday.

It was also Meadhaven's first loss in four outings, snapping a three-game winning streak and halted their progress up the table.

They remained on 11 points in 10th spot, just one points above the relegation zone.

 

Surprise package St George's FC of Portland, continued their fine form with a 1-0 win over the struggling Waterhouse at Lynch Park.

Midfielder Daniel Shaw netted his fifth goal of the season in the 33rd minute to propel St George's to their sixth win to stay in third spot on 22 points.

The Geoffrey Maxwell-coach outfit was winning their fourth consecutive game and must be considered serious title contenders.

Waterhouse on the other hand are heading in the opposite direction losing their third straight game and fifth overall to be in seventh spot on 12 points.

 

At Frome Sports Complex, home team Reno of Westmoreland had to depend on an own goal by Keithy Simpson in the 76th minute to earn a 1-1 draw with Sporting Central Academy.

The Clarendon team had taken the lead in the 14th minute courtesy of Ian Palmer but failed to hold that lead and are winless in their seven games.

Sporting Central moved to 10 points but remained at the bottom although having the same amount as 11th-placed Rivoli United, which was idled yesterday. Reno remained in sixth spot on 13 points.

 

The Portmore United/Rivoli encounter was not played because of the funeral service of former Rivoli player Enrico Beech and has been postponed to a date to be announced.

Potrtmore with their inactivity, slipped a place to fifth with 19 points while Rivoli remained second from bottom on 10 points.