Boys' Town, TG struggle in Clarendon

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

National Premier League big boys Tivoli Gardens - the defending champions, and Boys' Town - last year's runners-ups, found the going tough in Clarendon yesterday, with the former holding on for a 0-0 draw at Effortville against Humble Lion, and the Trench Town-based 'Red Brigade' faring far worse, losing 0-2 to Sporting Central Academy at Brancourt.

With Portmore United scheduled to play yesterday's late game against Harbour View, Sporting's win pushed them to the top of the league, at least for a few hours, with 18 points compared to Portmore's 17.

On 13 points

Humble Lion stayed in touch, moving to 13 points, while Tivoli Gardens returned to Kingston with 17 points of their own in the bag.

Sporting's win was their fourth at home, and means that they have only dropped points at Brancourt against Highgate, in a 0-0 effort. That game the benchmark on which coach Vassell 'Tutu' Reynolds gave his team full marks, for the performance against Boys' Town.

"We played in similar conditions against Highgate, but the difference today was that we adjusted better and quicker, while converting 50-60 per cent of our chances," he told The Gleaner.

Two of those chances fell to Jamali Powell and he converted the first with aplomb, controlling the ball on his chest before volleying in the roof of the net past Kirk Porter in the Boys' Town goal.

His Manchester parishmate and former Hillstars teammate, Francois Swaby, scored the other goal, when he reacted much quicker to a looping ball than two seemingly befuddled Boys' Town defenders, before easily slotting past Porter, making the three points safe in the 88th minute. Both were scoring their second goals of the season.

By contrast, Boys' Town, who have now lost their top-six placing, were clearly not able to manoeuvre in the field conditions, made soggy by pre-game showers.

The visitors were also unfortunate to play from the most affected end of the field, a situation that was compounded by the enterprise and speed of Bahamian Leslie St Fleur, who troubled the visitors throughout the game with his pace and teasing crosses.

Boys' Town did, however, have a few chances of their own, but were on each occasion denied by brilliant goalkeeping by Sanchez Lloyd, who has now kept unbeaten in seven games, while conceding only three goals.