Granville draw, but still lead the pack

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Despite dropping points in last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Spicy Hill FC, beaten mid-season finalists Granville FC still have a three-points lead going into this weekend's 18th round of matches in the 2010-11 National Rums of Jamaica-sponsored Trelawny Major Football League.

In a game in which they led twice, Granville scored through Larone Clarke and Patrick Pinnock. However, the resolute Spicy Hill found a hero in Damin Williams, who scored twice to drag them closer to mid-table in their 12-team competition.

In other crucial games played over the weekend, third-place Flames FC clipped mid-season champions Kinloss FC 1-0, courtesy of a first-half strike by Metcho Clarke; fifth-place Palmento were in spanking good form against former champions Holland FC, drubbing them 4-1; while Clarke's Town FC, who have been falling off the pace, clipped Duanvale FC 1-0.

In their game against Spicy Hill, Granville got off to an enterprising start when Clarke fired them into a 10th-minute 1-0 lead. However, the Spicy Hill team struck back in the 19th minute when Williams was on target with his shot.

finding an opportunity

With momentum in their favour, the hard-running Granville reclaimed the lead when Pinnock found himself with an opportunity on goal and made no mistake with his 30th-minute effort, making the half-time score 2-1.

Like they did in the first half, Spicy Hill stormed back five minutes into the second half, when Williams notched his second goal of the match, breaching Granville's defence for a 2-2 final score.

The draw lifted Granville's points tally to 30, three more than second-place Invaders FC. Flames and Kinloss are in joint third place, tied on 26 points each, in the race for the $150,000 winner's purse and the National Rums of Jamaica Trophy.

In their game against Holland, it was vintage Palmento as they scored twice in each half, before their opponents were able to grab a late consolation goal with their victory already assured.

After dominating the early exchanges but failing to make it count on the score-sheet, Palmento finally took the lead in the 27th minute. The second goal was quick in coming as Devron Clarke fired home to make the score 2-0.

With Holland struggling to find traction in the game, Palmento made it 3-0 when Allian Morgan scored in the 35th minute leading up to half time.

In the second half, Clarke got his second goal in the 67th minute, when he breached the Holland defence for a 4-0 lead. With time running out in the game, Holland got their consolation goal through Romaine Lewis for a 4-1 final score.