Harbour View celebrate first win of 2023-24 season
Published:Tuesday | December 19, 2023 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Harbour View celebrated their first win of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season after a comfortable 3-0 win over lowly Lime Hall at the Stadium East field yesterday.
David Reid led the Stars of the East with a brace, while Shaquile Bradford got the other. All three goals came in the first half.
The result pushed the 2021-22 champions one place up to 11th with seven points. Harbour View coach Ludlow Bernard said the win was long overdue.
“It is always good to get off the mark. It was long overdue and we are looking to move on from this victory, which was a very comprehensive one and more importantly, we were able to keep a clean sheet,” he said.
Although Lime Hall sit second from bottom on four points, the same as last-place Molynes United, and are still without a win after nine games, Bernard pointed out that other teams have failed to take three points against the minnows, and he was proud to be one of the teams that did.
“This is an opposition many have struggled to beat and other big teams have drawn with them. So we take pride in the fact that we defeated them and we are using it as a morale booster going forward. There have been a lot of positives before this game. It is just that the luck wasn’t going our way. But I am convinced that Harbour View will get more consistent.”
Early goal
Harbour View surged ahead after only two minutes of play when Reid fired them in front.
That lead was increased after 11 minutes when Bradford netted the second of the game.
Reid then made it 3-0 with his second of the match in the 28th minute of play.
The teams didn’t offer much in the second half, as Harbour View were content to let their opponents have possession, while trying to hit on the break.
However, Lime Hall failed to show the quality required to get back in the game and Harbour View eventually took control of possession.
Bradford had the best chance of the second half but he headed against the bar from six yards.
Lime Hall coach Vanny Clarke said the early goal was a major setback.
“The game itself wasn’t what we wanted. We lacked intensity and quality in the first half and the game got away.
“But when you concede after two minutes, you have not yet had a chance to settle and you begin to realise you are in a match and you are already down,” he stated.