Gareth Davis Sr., Freelance Reporter
A brace from prolific striker and captain, Damion 'Boy Boy' Harwood, gave St. Georges Sports Club a 3-1 victory over former leaders Portmore United in a Cash Plus Premier League match at Lynch Park, Buff Bay, Portland, yesterday.
The other goal came from Richardo Watson, while Fabian Davis scored for Portmore United.
Victory lifted St. Georges to 25 points, while Portmore dropped to second place as it remained on 28 points.
It was Portmore who started the attacking early in the first half through Davis, Carlos Barrett and Wolry Wolf, but good defending by Ricardo Taylor, Dwayne Holmes, Gary Banton and Omar Davis of Georges kept them at bay.
Strong surge
Cheered on by a massive home crowd, Georges came into their own and surged ahead after Holmes made a pass to Omar Henderson on the edge of the 18-yard box, who then played the ball across to the unmarked Harwood, who fired into the Portmore goal for a 28th-minute lead.
The remainder of the half was evenly contested and it wasn't until the period of time added for stoppages that referee Dave Peterkin awarded a controversial free kick to Portmore, which was taken by Davis, who placed the ball to the left of the diving Anthoniel Williams, in goal for Georges, to level the score at 1-1.
The second half saw both teams engaged in counter-attacking strategies, but it was Georges who went further ahead in the 63rd minute when a corner kick taken by Holmes found the head of Harwood, who beat Dwayne Kerr in the Portmore goal for a 2-1 lead.
Watson put the issue beyond doubt with a goal in the 90th minute after receiving a through pass, then quickly dis-posed of the advancing goalkeeper and fired into the empty net for a 3-1 victory.
Praises
Winning coach Donovan Duckie praised his team for the effort and commended spectators for turning out in large numbers to support the home team.
"It is a well-deserved victory over a high-quality team," said Duckie. The players did not disappoint their supporters and Georges is growing from strength to strength."
His opposite number, Linval Dixon, had high praises for Georges, which he said did everything to win the game.
"We defended poorly and that probably cost us the game," he said. "We now have to regroup and prepare ourselves for our next game on Wednesday."
St. Georges 3
Damion Harwood 28th, 68th
Richardo Watson 90th
Portmore 1
Fabian Davis 45+
CASH PLUS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLES
Standings from the Cash Plus Premier League following yesterday's matches (Tables reflect home record, away and overall statistics.)
| | HOME RECORD | | | | | AWAY RECORD | | | | TOTAL |
TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS. |
TIVOLI GARDENS | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 30 | |
PORTMORE UNITED | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 28 |
| WATERHOUSE | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 27 |
| HARBOUR VIEW | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 26 |
| ST. GEORGES SC | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 25 |
| BOYS TOWN | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| SEBA UNITED | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 19 |
| RENO | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 19 |
| AUGUST TOWN | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 16 |
| SPORTING | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 16 |
| ARNETT GARDENS | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 15 |
| VILLAGE UNITED | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 23 | -9 | 10 |
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Wednesday's matches: 4:00 Waterhouse vs Harbour View at Drewsland Mini Stadium, 3:00 Sporting Central Academy vs Boys' Town at Brancourt, 3:00 Reno vs Tivoli Gardens at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), 5:00 Arnett vs St. Georges at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex, 3:00 Portmore United vs Village United at Ferdie Neita Park, 6:00 Seba United vs August Town at Jarrett Park.
Leading goalscorers: 9- Daniel Shaw (August Town); 8 - Damion Harwood (St. Georges); 7 - Oneke Ford (Sporting Central, Oneil McDonald (Boys' Town); 6 - Leon Strickland (Arnett), Fabian Taylor (Harbour View), - Ricardo Cousins), Ricardo Scott (Reno), Delroy Ellis (Seba), Denroy Dennis (St. Georges); 4 - Wilfred Smith (Seba), Kemar James (Seba), Fabian Dawkins (Village), Brian Woolaston (Waterhouse), Jomo Gordon (Waterhouse), Richardo Watson (St. Georges); 3 - Kevin Wilson (Arnett), Michael Campbell (Boys' Town), Kevin Deerr (Portmore United), Kavin Bryan (Harbour View), Christopher Harvey (Harbour View), Nicholi Finlayson (Reno), Troy Smith (Village).
