Sporting Central poised for a first

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Sporting Central have now played themselves into a position from which they can genuinely harbour dreams of playing in the first end-of-round final set for month-end.

The Clarendon side solidified this latest push when substitute Onike Ford scored the afternoon's only goal at Brancourt in the 70th minute on Wednesday, which secured full points in a 1-0 win over newcomers Benfica of St Ann.

With 13 points compiled from four wins and a draw, Sporting, now fifth, are off to their best start in a first round and can create a history of their own by qualifying for the first-round final, if they can mine the bulk of points from remaining encounters against Reno, Boys' Town and defending champions Harbour View.

Waterhouse head the 12-team standings by virtue of goal difference, as they have amassed 16 points, the same as Boys' Town. Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United have 15, while Harbour View, like Sporting Central, have 13.

The rains stayed away during actual play, but the field was still left soaked from early afternoon showers and hence hampered the general quality of play. However, Sporting still managed to dominate the exchanges but were disappointing all afternoon in front of goal.

The St Ann visitors, who were making the 120-kilometre trek to Clarendon for the second time in three days - having done so against Humble Lion at the weekend - fought gallantly and looked like staving off their opp-onents. However, the burly Ford, who replaced Jamali Powell who once again played well enough but was too hesitant to shoot, saved the day with a typical poacher's strike, firing home to beat the visitors' custodian at his near post.

Sporting's assistant coach, Nigel Stewart, dedicated the vicotry to head coach Donovan Duckie, who was absent due to minor injuries sustained in a traffic accident as they made the trip back home from last Sunday's 3-0 win at the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, Trelawny, against Village United.