Sporting clip St Georges

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Sporting Central Academy's coach Nigel Stewart left Lynch Park a happy man on Wednesday, following his team's 1-0 victory over bottom-placed team St Georges Sports Club in their Digicel Premier League game.

"We travelled from Clarendon to Portland expecting to get three points, and we did, but it was rather difficult, as the surface was muddy and slippery. This is a young team, full of energy and eager to win. Georges played well up until when they gave up a goal in the 87th minute. The game could have ended in a draw, but I guess we wanted it more," Stewart said.Substitute Hughan Gray who replaced Francois Swaby in the 82nd minute scored the winning goal.

The game started with George's attacking through the skilful Leon Irving, Romeo Parkes, Shawn Hunter, and Damion Harwood. However, Harwood who was at the end of many attacks squandered some clear opportunities.

The clearest chance came in the 28th minute, when Andrae Thomas picked out Irving close to the centre circle. He got by four players before placing the ball neatly to Parkes, but the heavily built forward, fired way over the top with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Close shave

And having such a close shave, Sporting started to counter through Gary McIntosh, Levaughn Williams, Kadian Wynter and Renoir Elliot, but good defending from Richardo Watson in his new role as sweeper, Ronike Anderson, and outstanding goalkeeping from Randal Huie, kept them out.

At the start of the second half, Georges, playing without national representatives Jermaine Taylor and Dever Orgill, started to make many errors.

Sporting dominated the entire second half with Williams, Wynter, Elliot, Dale Watson, and David Boswell, camping near the edge of Georges' 18-yard box.

The winning goal came when Williams dribbled down the right flank and made a beautiful cross which landed perfectly for Gray who fired past a helpless Huie.

Losing coach, Geoffrey Maxwell, said that instructions to his players were for them to spread the ball along the flanks as the middle of the field was muddy and slippery.

"I can only coach, but if they fail to follow instruction, then they will pay," he said.