Last-minute reprieve for Portmore United

Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Harbour View striker, Rafiek Thomas, missed a huge chance to grab all three points for his team at the stroke of full-time, as he kicked centimetres wide and the Stars of the East had to settle for a 0-0 draw with home team Portmore United, in the Digicel Premier League (DPL) football match at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday night.

The result meant Portmore weren't able to cut into Tivoli Gardens' three-point lead, (48 points) after the West Kingston team were held 0-0 by a resurgent Village United. Portmore inched to 45 points and joint second place with Waterhouse, while Harbour View advanced to 42 points.

In a game that had few bright spots, both Portmore and Harbour View rarely created chances.

However, Portmore's young star, Tremaine Stewart, gave the crowd something to cheer about when he struck a terrific shot from about 25 yards in the 85th minute that skimmed the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.

Portmore's coach, Linval Dixon, said that after his team's best striker, Steven Morrissey, could not continue due to injury their chances of winning were undermined.

Top striker lost

"When we lost our top striker (Morrissey) early in the first half it really set us back. We were trying to get some players out there to do some work, they tried and we knew that a game like this was going to be tough and not a lot of opportunities were going to be created and unfortunately we didn't get any clear-cut opportunities," Dixon said.

He added: "I'm disappointed (with the draw), we wanted to stay in touch with Tivoli. We knew that we had to try and grind out a win in tight, close games, this was one of those games that we could have gotten three points from, but that's the nature of the game."

Harbour View's coach, Donovan Hayles, thought his team played well.

Out of character

"I thought we played good. Portmore is not an easy team to beat. In terms of attacking them we had to be patient, if you noticed we played out of character today because what Portmore wanted us to do was to come at them and then hit us on the counter," said Hayles. "After saying all of that I think it was technically a good game."

Hayles added that each time his team had the opportunity to make progress in the standings the players seemed not to take full advantage.

"Each time we get a chance to make progress we are not hitting the nail on its head, but one day the hammer will strike and we have to strike well," he noted.