Finally, Humble Lion get a victory

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

The Humble Lion coaching staff openly sang 'relief' as on the strength of two goals in stoppage time, in both halves, they beat their beleaguered Digicel Premier League (DPL) relegation zone mates, St Georges 2-0, at Effortville yesterday.

"Boy, this is a relief," coaching staff member Linval 'Palla' Wilson told The Gleaner. "It's a big win even though we were playing the bottom team. Three points is three points regardless of who you get it from."

With 16 points in the bag and five points adrift the nearest team ahead, Wilson reckons it's is a perfect platform to approach with confidence upcoming games against Benfica and Village, the two teams which they last recorded victories against in the first round.

The first goal, coming on minute 45, was gifted - national defender and St Georges captain, Jermaine Taylor, inadvertently heading an attempted corner clearance past his inexperienced goalkeeper, Romaine Bowers. The forlorn look on Bowers' face suggested it was the worse blow he could ever have received after coming on at the 12th minute when first-string custodian Randal Huie was forced off from a injury received in a strong challenge.

Huge contrast

After good work to deny Humble Lion repeatedly, Bowers was beaten again just when he might have felt the worse had passed as the second Humble Lions' goal came within the five minutes of time added by referee Dwight Royal. His anguish was, however, a huge contrast to the uncontrolled joy for the small band of faithful home fans, who shouted gleefully as substitute Peter Brown nodded home a well-timed right-sided cross from Phillip Peddie.

Before yesterday's clash, only two points had separated the two, who have occupied the bottom tier for most of the 18 completed rounds. Near misses and good chances to score mirrored an exciting clash, but the home side belatedly got the clincher on an unending effort to pry the three points that had eluded them for nine games.