Subs inspire change for Portmore

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

INSPIRED by its substitutes, Portmore United lifted their play to trounce Village United 3-0 in their Digicel Premier League match at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday.

Steven Morrissey (68th, 90th) scored a double and Tremaine Stewart (76th) netted the other goal.

"We weren't playing well in the first-half and came under pressure," pointed out Portmore's coach, Linval Dixon.

"We made the changes, gave instructions and we won three-nil." The Trelawny aggregation had the more-heralded Portmore under constant pressure for most of the first half, when they played cohesively with Oliver Trail, Dino Williams, Troy Smith and Kemar Brown coordinating a nice passing game. Actually, the only thing Village did wrong was that they failed to score.

Pay dearly

They would pay dearly for their misses in the second half, more so from the boot of Morrissey, who replaced Errol Stevens at the break. There was another substitution at half-time for Portmore, Trevol Smith replacing Mario Swaby.

Portmore started to pressure immediately upon the resumption, with Morrissey scoring after beating his marker.

Stewart doubled the score soon after when he beat the keeper fromclose range.

Morrissey put the icing on the cake in the final minute. After he collected a pass from Bryan Bayliss and fired his shot into the goal, setting off rapturous celebration for the homesters.

"The team played well in the first half," admitted Village United's assistant coach, Hopeton Gilchrist. "However, we lapsed and became indisciplined, so we lost the game."

A second consecutive win lifted Portmore to six points while Village are seventh with a point after drawing their opening fixture.

Standings

Final standings in the Digicel Premier League after yesterday's last round of matches. (Tabulated under Teams, P-Play, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Lose, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, Pts-Points)

TeamsPWDLGFGAGDPTSWaterhouse22006156Portmore22004046Boys' Town22005236Tivoli22004136H View22003126Reno210131-23Village201125-31Arnett201125-31Humble Lion200202-20St Georges200236-30Sporting200203-30Benfica200227-50

Tomorrow's matches

Benfica vs Portmore

Boys' Town vs Tivoli

Harbour View vs Arnett

Reno vs Humble Lion

Sporting vs St Georges

Village vs Waterhouse

(Home teams named first)