Boys' Town make solid start in DPL

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Striker Dean Thompson and midfielder Anthony Dawes scored twice yesterday to lead Boys' Town to an exciting 4-2 win over St Georges Sports Club at Collie Smith Drive in the first match of the Digicel Premier League.

In a match played in constant drizzle, Boys' Town took the lead on a disputed goal in the 36th minute through the diminutive Thompson, whose chipped shot hit the crossbar and rebounded over the goal line.

The goal, however, did not go down well with the St Georges players, who protested to the referee that the ball did not go over the line.

However, after checking with his assistant, Damion Williams, referee Kevin Morrison maintained his decision.

The home team increased their tally three minutes from the break when Dawes unleashed a beauty from close to the centre circle, which beat the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Randal Huie.

St Georges, who finished fourth in the league last year and were hoping for a positive start, then went three behind in the 63rd minute when Thompson finished off a sublime move from Marvin Morgan.

The former St George's College Manning Cup star dismissed three defenders before Thompson, showing good positional instincts, rounded the goalkeeper from just inside the penalty box.

Three nil then became 4-0 when Dawes unleashed another beauty, this time with his left foot and from just outside the penalty box.

With time running out, St Georges then pulled two goals back in the 85th and 87th minutes courtesy of a 'pile-drive' free kick from standout defender Jermaine Taylor; and a clinical left-footed strike from midfield substitute Shawn Hunter.

Too late

The goals, however, were too little too late.

Thompson was happy for his double. "I didn't expect to get two goals on the day but I will take anything I get," he said.

"One of my goals this season is to get the leading goalscorer's title and this is a good start," he added.

St Georges' assistant coach, Raymond Thompson, who was standing in for head coach Braxton Hyre, who is off the island, said he was not too perturbed about the result.

"It's a work in progress. Starting off we knew that Boys' Town would be tough as they participated in the Champions League (KSAFA pre-season tourney) and got valuable match practice.

"We, on the other hand, showed that we lacked quality match practice as it was not until towards the end of the game that we started to find our rhythm," he declared.