Boys' Town rally to secure win

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Boys' Town came from behind to edge a Humble Lion team that ended the game with 10 players by a 2-1 margin in a pretty drab affair at Collie Smith Drive in yesterday's Digicel Premier League action, pushing their tally to 23 points.

Kevin Mighty fired the visitors into an unlikely lead after 18 minutes had gone on referee Raymond Bogle's watch with an expertly taken strike before Renae Lloyd (34th) and Asrick Samuels (81st) wiped out their advantage.

The win ensured that the Trench Town-based team remain in third spot going into their next clash against rivals Tivoli Gardens at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Both teams provided plenty of industry, but there was precious little quality in the final third.

Masterful goal

However, Mighty's strike was one from the top drawer, as the dreadlocked talisman embarrassingly left his marker Samuels, on his buttocks, before wrapping his left foot around the ball, curling his shot perfectly into the top corner.

It was a masterful goal, one that deserved to win any game. But it was not to be as the busy-bodied Lloyd popped up at the Humble Lion back post to head a Michael Campbell cross into the back of the net.

Goalkeeper Damion Crooks almost uprooted an upright in his attempt to make the save, but Lloyd made the most of the space that he was allowed after some good link-up play between Campbell and Samuels down the right side.

Things went from bad to worse for the Clarendon-based team at the 67th minute after Ajuran Brown was shown a straight red card for his karate-styled tackle on Marvin Morgan Jr, who could not return to play after leaving the field for treatment.

Samuels atoned for his earlier mishap in his own penalty area when he popped up in his opponents' box to score from a right-sided cross, as the hosts took full advantage of their numerical advantage.

Boys' Town coach, Andrew Price, was a relieved man after the final whistle and was particularly happy with the character displayed through his team's fightback.

'Very hard game'

"This was a very hard game. We expected a difficult game because Humble Lion is a well-coached team, full of running and very physical," said Price. "My young lads really stood out there and fought. After going a goal down, it was really difficult but we managed to consolidate in the second half and when we did so, we started moving the ball around much better."

Price continued: "It's a good workout, the team showed a lot of character to come from behind and fight for this win here against a very good Humble Lion team and I'm very happy for the three points."

Humble Lion's coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, was concerned with his team's inability to convert their chances and also believes that he has some work to do to get his players to be a little more ambitious.

"I think we played well, but we could have done much better. We gave Boys' Town far too much room to play and we could have played with some more intensity," Hyde said. "We created some chances that we should have put away, but we have to continue working hard.

"There is a mental issue with the players as well, we have to get them to stop thinking about avoiding relegation and concentrate on getting the results and working for it," he added.

SCORES

Reno 0-0 Arnett Gardens
Sporting Central 1-2 Tivoli Gardens
Benfica 0-0 Waterhouse
Village United 1-1Portmore United
Harbour View 2-0 St Georges