Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Seba United's Damion Nelson (left) and Portmore United's Ryan Powell battle for the ball during match at Ferdie Neita Park in Portmore yesterday. The defending champions made a winning start to the 2005-06 campaign, beating Seba 4-2. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Portmore United survived an early scare to come back and beat newly promoted Seba United 4-2 in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League opening fixture at Ferdie Neita Sports Complex yesterday.
It was Seba who scored the early stunner, as a corner conceded in the 20th minute saw defender Carlton Aikens boot the ball over the head of goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers who had come but failed to claim the square.
The celebration for the Montegonians would, however, be shortlived. Five minutes later a lovely build up eventually saw a ball played through slightly to the right of goal for national player Omar Daley. He ran on to strike the ball with plenty of venom, giving goal keeper Alrick Henry no chance and bringing his team level.
The cup holders extended their lead in the 35th minute when Craig Morrison calmly controlled what looked like an attempt on goal, to then turn and fire past Henry from about six yards out.
COMEBACK IN SECOND HALF
The men up front combined to add yet another to Portmore's tally as Dave Clarke held up and then played a well weighted ball through to newly signed striker Ashaine Murray from Reading Town in Britain. Murray then ran on to easily slot past goal keeper Henry to score on his debut and seemingly put Seba out of contention.
However, the second half would see Seba would pull one back. The tall, quick Kemar Jones who had continuously been a nuisance to the Portmore defenders, controlled the ball expertly in the box and managed to get by his marker and round goalkeeper Sawyers. Although his resulting shot was cleared off the the line Wilfred Smith ran on and outjumped the Portmore defenders to head home and throw Seba a 62nd minute lifeline.
FRUSTRATED
Portmore United, however, cut that lifeline four minutes later as Clarke would himself be the beneficiary of an accurate chip from Fabian Malcolm, which he then ran on to and fired home, this despite taking a touch from goal keeper Henry.
A frustrated Seba team never seemed to have any real chance of getting back into the game. Their frustrations boiled over when Seian McNish was given a red card for elbowing substitute Orane Miller.
Seba coach Paul "Tegat" Davis believes his team may have had "early season jitters".
"I am disappointed in the way we played the first half... in the second half the players were a lot more relaxed and we played better. Come the next game in Montego Bay it will be a different ballgame," he said.
Despite not yet having a full strength squad available, Portmore official Horace Reid, while confident in his current squad, believes that "there is still a long way to go".
"The focus will be on the players that have made themselves available, we have confidence in them and I think they can get the job done," he remarked.
"I thought that we were a bit disjointed in stages of the game, but it's the first game and there are some butterflies affecting some of the younger players, but we'll get there," he said.
SCORESHEET
PORTMORE UNITED 4
Omar Daley 12th
Creig Morrison 35th
Ashaine Murray 40th
Dave Clarke 66th
SEBA 2
Carlton Aikens 20th
Wilfred Smith 62nd
