Portmore Striker's Venicia Reid shields the ball away from Harbour View's Dianna Hue while teammate Latoya Barrett looks on in action from the Sherwin Williams women's league mid-season final at the Constant Spring football field yesterday. Reid scored once in the 2-1 Portmore victory. - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Port-more Strikers fought off a late surge by Harbour View to emerge 2-1 winners in the Sherwin Williams Women's Football League mid-season final at the Constant Spring field yesterday.

A spectacular 30-yard strike by midfielder Shereen Clarke eluded Harbour View custodian Keris Heywood to give the Strikers a 19th-minute lead.

While the Knockout Cup champions were still on the back-foot, the pacy Venicia Reid struck another telling blow as she broke away from the Harbour View back-line before rolling the ball coolly around keeper Heywood to extend Portmore's lead in the 28th minute.

It was almost game, set and match when Rochelle Bryan caught the Harbour View backline off guard from a through ball. However her 36th-minute attempted chip over custodian Heywood went just wide of goal. Harbour View came out a brighter team in the second half and after a healthy bout of possession were rewarded for their industry from a set piece.

Peta-Gay Soman's 35-yard free kick curled over the head of Portmore custodian Peatria Campbell to pull them back on the scoreboard in the 60th minute.

However, Campbell redeemed herself when she fisted away an 80th-minute Kimmia Parker shot to goal, fired from about 18 yards to ensure that the score remained the way that it was until the final whistle.