'I did it for my team'

• Stewart rejoices after netting winner for Portmore

Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Portmore United's super sub Tremaine Stewart hit the winner as his team defeated struggling Montego Bay United 2-1 in a National Premier League football match at the Ferdie Neita Park in Braeton on Sunday night.

The win saw Portmore progress to 11 points from five games, the identical tally as Tivoli Gardens, which edged Harbour View 1-0, while Montego Bay United remained near the bottom on a point. Only Village United (zero), who have lost all five games, have done worse.

Portmore can thank their lucky star as they could have been behind from as early as the 23rd minute if Montego Bay's Kemiro James' well-struck shot from 30 yards had scored. The ball eventually hit the crossbar and went back into play as goalie Garice McPherson was caught off his line.

However, Portmore shrugged off that early scare and took the lead in the 28th minute when Alonzo Adlam scored from the penalty spot. The penalty resulted from Eric Vernan being brought down in the box by a defender.

The second half saw the teams trading possession and chances, but Portmore should have extended their lead in the 58th minute when Adoah Nickles headed on to the crossbar.

Lifeline

The St James-based club was given a lifeline as Portmore defender Richard Allen was adjudged to have pushed down MoBay's Leon Irving inside the box as both players challenged for the ball in the 75th minute. Allen was shown the red card for his second bookable offence, and MoBay were awarded a penalty.

Rohan Bernard calmly stepped up and netted the equaliser from the penalty spot to tie the game.

Portmore continued to miss chances as Ewan Grandison should have scored seven minutes later. He was let through by a suspect MoBay defence, but Grandison kicked wide from an acute angle.

Just as MoBay thought they would leave Portmore with a point, substitute Stewart slammed home the winning goal in time added, as Vernan played a ball back inside the Montego Bay United penalty area.

Stewart, who was scoring his second goal in five matches, described how he managed to score.

"The ball was played back by Vernon and I kept my eyes on the ball, I kept my focus on the goal and I did it for the team," said Stewart, a Walker Cup champion with Eltham High in 2006.

He also said he wasn't too perturbed to be coming off the bench.

"If you don't start, you may feel a way, but the coach put me on and I scored. I am just happy for myself and my teammates as well. I came off the bench and did it for the team, (I scored) and the team got the victory."