Portmore United thriving with confidence

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

BUFF BAY, Portland:

SUCCESSIVE wins have boosted the confidence of Portmore United, who continue to thrive since winning the first end-of-round final in the Red Stripe Premier League.

Not only did they beat Tivoli Gardens in that final, the Sunshine City team has gone on to take over the lead from the defending champions with three consecutive wins since then.

Their latest came via a 1-0 result over Highgate United at Lynch Park, Buff Bay, on Sunday, when Adoah Nickle netted a 47th-minute winner.

"We fought hard for this victory," said Calvin Lewis, head coach of Portmore United, which head the 12-team standings with 27 points after 14 rounds.

"The team is playing well and with a lot of confidence. We came here looking for three points and we played a hard-fought game in slippery conditions, which affected both teams," he added. "In the end, we emerged victorious."

The first half was evenly balanced, with both teams trading passes in midfield and along the flanks. And with the underfoot conditions causing players to slip at regular intervals, the first 45 minutes ended in a deadlock.

At the start of the second half, Portmore were first into attacking through Roen Nelson, Andrew Christie and Nickle.

Header on target

Christie made a cross from the left flank inside Highgate's six-yard box and, with the goalkeeper planted on his goal line, Nickle rose high and headed into the goal for a one-nil lead.

Portmore continued to attack, but their efforts were spoilt by poor finishing.

In a bizarre incident, Highgate's coach, Michael Smith, who had earlier brought on Horace James in the 69th minute, decided to pull James and replace him with Luke Soares in the 80th minute. The move sparked a protest from a player on the bench and was backed up by boos from spectators. In the end, Soares replaced Severo Murphy, who volunteered to make way for the substitution as the situation was becoming extremely embarrassing.

Smith made a hurried exit from Lynch Park amid threats from spectators, who were calling for the appointment of a new coach, as their team slipped below Montego Bay United (15 points) and into the relegation zone at 11th on 14 points.