Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Beech

MEADHAVEN RECOVERED after conceding an early goal to sting hosts Rivoli United 3-2, replacing the St. Catherine team as early leaders in the National Premier League (NPL) play-offs with a win at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The victory was the second in a row for the KSAFA team, which knocked off Wadadah 2-1 on Sunday.

Things had began ominously for the young team against Rivoli. Meadhaven found themselves trailing three minutes into the encounter when veteran striker Devon Hodges put Rivoli ahead with a close-range effort. Hodges was able to capitalise on a fiercely-struck free kick from Derek Planter, which had been deflected back into his path by Meadhaven custodian Andrew Gibson.

The visiting team found themselves back on level terms five minutes later when a corner from midfielder Dwayne Williams flew over the head of diminutive Rivoli custodian Shannon Bartley and into the back of the net. Dwayne Smith rose high to head Meadhaven into the lead from a 18th-minute corner and Leighton Neita finished up a sweeping attacking move from Meadhaven with a tap-in effort from a cross whipped in from the left flank on the stroke of halftime, leaving the home crowd stunned.

Energy

The introduction of Rivoli crowd favourite Patrick Beech brought some energy to the struggling team and they managed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot when the veteran striker converted in the 76th minute. Bearing down on goal, Hodges was brought down in the area by defender Kenrick Brown.

Pressing for an equaliser, Beech could only squeeze a close 80th-minute effort into the path of Meadhaven 'keeper Gibson, while Luke Soares saw his 85th-minute long-range shot have Gibson uncomfortably back-pedalling, but dip just beyond the crossbar.

"This was a tough game, but we stuck to the task and really showed what we were made of after going a goal behind," said Meadhaven coach Lijyasu Simms.

Every point is crucial

"They did well, congratulations to the players. Every point is crucial in this competition and we will continue to go for three points all the time," he said.

While disappointed with the result, Rivoli assistant coach Jermaine Thomas saw the loss as a minor setback and promised the team would recover.

"It's not really a big setback, but when you see us again we won't be the same team," Thomas said.

"We really gave away two soft goals in terms of defensive lapses and we lost the game from there," he said.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD Pts
M'haven	2	2	0	0	5	3	2	6

Rivoli	2	1	0	1	6	4	2	3
York	2	1	0	1	2	4	-2	3
Wadadah	2	0	0	2	1	3	-2	0

Wadadah 0

York 1

Kevin Bascome 64th

Rivoli United 2

Devon Hodges 3rd, Patrick Beech 76th

Meadhaven United 3

Dwayne Williams 10th, Dwayne Smith 18th, Leighton Neita 45th