Bennett nets stunning goal in Boys' Town victory

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

A stunning free kick by Anthony Bennett was enough to see second place Boys' Town maintain the pressure on Digicel Premier League leaders Tivoli Gardens, as they emerged 1-0 winners over Portmore United in a hard-fought football contest at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Bennett's 71st minute goal was his second of the season against his former club, Portmore, but unlike the previous occasion, Boys' Town were able to hold on for the win.

The victory saw the Red Brigade, which entered the 32nd round of matches seven points adrift the leaders, move to 55 points, now five behind after Tivoli's 2-2 draw with Arnett Gardens last night.

Chances wasted

Portmore, which came into the round on 47 points and lying fourth in the 12-team standings, missed several clear chances, which goes to show why they have failed to win in their last seven league outings.

The visitors' best scoring opportunity came in the 60th minute when Ricardo Cousins headed the ball to his team's leading goal scorer, Steven Morrissey, giving him a clear chance to score. However, Morrissey failed to net his 11th goal of the season, as his effort was directed straight at Boys' Town's custodian, Kirk Porter.

Morrissey had previously squandered a glorious opportunity in the 21st minute, when he turning his defender, Nathan Wyatt, inside out, before drilling his effort just wide.

Linval Dixon, coach of Portmore, was left to rue his team's poor showing in front of goal.

"I am very much disappointed because I think we played well, but we didn't score our chances and the team (Boys' Town) got a chance and they scored," Dixon lamented.

"We should have scored a couple goals today and we never did, but we will continue to work," he added.

Good game for bennett

Bennett looked dangerous for the entire game and actually got the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute after Boys' Town had worked a quick free kick. However, he was adjudged to have been offside.

Later, he was not to be denied his sixth goal of the season, as he stepped up in the 71st minute after his captain, Michael Campbell, had be fouled, to majestically strike a 30-yard free kick into the 'V' of Portmore's goal.

Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, was very proud of the win, given that his team was missing several key players.

"They played very well today," he said. "A couple of our front-line players weren't available, but the people who are on the fringe came in and did a good job today."

With seven matches remaining, he further pronounced: "Every match from now on is like a final, we need to collect three points to continue to stalk the leaders."