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Portmore United took a giant step towards defending their
Digicel Premier League (DPL) title with a hard-fought 1-0 win
over Boys’ Town at the Ferdie Neita Park last night.
A Steven Morrissey strike in the 50th minute crushed Boys’ Town
title ambitions and effectively turned the league into a two
horse
race.
Portmore with their league-topping 19th win of the
season, open up a six point lead over second placed Harbour View
with six games remaining.
Portmore moved to 66 points and in the process opened up
daylight between themselves and Boys’ Town leading by 12 points
and killing the Red Brigade’s title hopes.
In
fact, Boys’ Town not only lost to Portmore but lost third spot
to Tivoli Gardens remaining on 54 points in fourth. However,
they will play Tivoli Gardens in the final third round game.
Harbour View came from behind twice to hold Waterhouse FC 2-2 at
Drewsland to secure a point but dropped two crucial points to
Portmore United.
Live wire Jonathan Williams, who loves scoring against Harbour
View, grabbed a brace in the 31st and 83rd minutes for
Waterhouse.
Errol Stevens had equalized for Harbour View in the 80th but it
took a last minute goal by Dicoy Williams for a share of the
points for Harbour View.
The Stars of the East which lost 0-1 to Sporting last week,
remained second on 60 points and will have a mammoth task of
catching Portmore United with six games to go.
But
more importantly, Harbour View will play Portmore two more times
and basically has their own faith in their hands.
Waterhouse inched to 42 points and remained in sixth but are
joined by St George’s FC in a three way battle for the fifth and
sixth spots in the elite group.
At Brancourt, the visiting Tivoli Gardens edged
Sporting Central Academy
2-1 and kept their title ambitions alive.
Roland Dean with his 15th goal of the season opened the scoring
in the second minute of play before Jermaine Christian leveled
for Sporting in the ninth minute.
But Navion Boyd headed the winner in the 19th minute from a
Sheldon Palmer cross to secure all three points.
It was the third time Tivoli was beating Sporting Central
Academy this season following 3-0 and 4-1 whippings earlier.
Tivoli Gardens moved to 56 points into third spot while Sporting
Central stayed ninth with 34 points.
Meanwhile Meadhaven United moved closer to safety from the
relegation zone with a comfortable 2-0 win over Rivoli United at
the Constant Spring Field.
Former Calabar High School star and National Under 20 player
Keniel Hyde opened the scoring for Meadhaven in the 14th minute.
Former National Under-20 striker and
Jamaica College Manning Cupper Keammar Daley
double the advantage in the 56th minute for his ninth goal of
the season.
The promoted Meadhaven, with their eighth win from 32 games,
moved to 32 points, seven clear of the relegation zone with six
games remaining.
They look a safe bet to avoid the drop and today’s win was their
second consecutive win following last week’s 2-1 win over
Village United.
St Catherine-based Rivoli United stayed eighth with 37 points
and can kiss goodbye to a top six placing in the elite group.
The Bradley Stewart-coach outfit is five points behind the
seventh-placed team with one game remaining in the deciding
third round.
At Lynch Park, home team St George’s FC notched a 2-1 win over
Reno FC and basically condemned them to relegation.
Damion Harewood with his seventh goal gave St George’s the lead
in the 41st minute before Leon Irving doubled the advantage with
a 73rd minute strike.
Omar Johnson pulled one back for Reno in the 82nd minute but it
came too late as St George’s held on for their 11th win of the
season and their seventh at home.
They moved to 42 points, the same as Waterhouse FC but remained
in seventh position based on an inferior
goal
difference.
With one set of games remaining St George’s which travel to
Sporting Central next week are battling with both Arnett Gardens
and Waterhouse for the fifth and sixth spots in the elite group.
Westmoreland-based Reno which was suffering their 15th defeat
remained second from bottom on 25 points and are favourites
along with Village United to be relegated.
At the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, Village United earned a
crucial point holding Arnett Gardens to a 0-0 draw.
Although bringing up the rear with 24 points, Village are just
one point behind Reno and eight points behind 10th-placed
Meadhaven United with six games remaining.
A decent run could see them overall both but that look unlikely
as Village United are short on striking power.
Coach Cassman Williams had to shift regular defender Jeff Pearce
and throw him into the firing line in search of goals.
Although he played well he failed to get on the score sheet and
Village’s winless streak stretches to 12 games.
They have not won since beating Meadhaven United 1-0 on January
25, 2009. In fact, they have won just four times from 32 games.
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