Portmore maintain edge over Sporting

Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Portmore United maintained their edge over Sporting Central Academy with a 2-1 win in the opening game of the 2011-12 National Premier League season, at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday.

Portmore United, the 2008 champs, got goals from Tremaine Stewart (54th) and Andrew Vanzie (80th), while Sporting's Jamoly Powell (81st) got their consolation goal.

Sporting should have taken the lead five minutes into the second half when François Swaby got a gift close to goal, as the Portmore defence gave away the ball. However, Swaby surprisingly shot wide of the mark.

Sporting Central Academy were left to pay as Portmore's Stewart hit home from point-blank range four minutes later. Stewart benefited from Alanzo Adlam's blast as goalie Triston Huntley spilled the ball and Stewart buried the offering.

Portmore went 2-0 up when Vanzie scored a cracker from about 40 yards that brought the crowd to life, 10 minutes before the final whistle.

Lapse in concentration

However, another lapse in concentration by the Portmore defence allowed Sporting to pull a goal back almost instantly, as Powell netted calmly from close range a minute later.

Calvin Lewis, in his first official game as head coach of the Portmore team, was a happy man.

"It's always good to start off on a winning note, but most importantly, we played very well and I love how we moved the ball around the park. We dominated at least 75 per cent of the game. We made a little slip-up near the end of the game and we conceded a goal, nonetheless we played well to get this victory."

He added: "It's the first game of the season, the players were trying things that we practised in training, but the conviction wasn't really there. However, the players stepped up their game in the second half as the butterflies left them and did well."

Sporting Central's coach, Vassell Reynolds, said that his coaching staff wanted a positive result from the game, but it was not to be.

"We didn't start too well, but we kept the Portmore team at bay for the first half. We introduced some fresh legs in the second half to put more energy into our attacks. I think we played a good game, I'm just disappointed with the end result. Portmore have the edge over us in terms of where head-to-head clashes are concerned and we need to address that." Reynolds said.