Stewart: We should have scored no less than five goals and this has come to haunt us. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Coach Braxton Hyre was in a jubilant mood following a second-half goal by substitute, Ricardo Scott, which earned St Georges Sports Club a 1-0 victory over Rivoli United at Lynch Park on Sunday and sole leadership in the Digicel Premier League.

The goal was scored in the 78th minute from inside the 18-yard box.

"It feels good to secure all three points, especially against a team like Rivoli," said Hyre. "We have seven of our main players, including striker Daniel Shaw, on the injured list, but because of the depth of this team, we are still ableto hold our own. On Wednesday, we will play Boys' Town and I am expecting a good performance from my players."

First-half domination

Georges, who are now on 17 points, will play away to the Red Brigade in a rescheduled game at Collie Smith Drive tomorrow.

It was the Bradley Stewart-coached Rivoli which dominated the entire first half, with striker Devon Hodges, playmaker Kirk Ramsey and the overlapping Fidel Anderson creating most problems. The trio easily made inroads into the Georges defence and had it not been for the efforts of national defender Jermaine Taylor and Omar Davis, they might have conceded at least four goals in the first half.

At the start of the second half, Rivoli again threatened to break the deadlock after Hodges combined with Ramsey and Derrick Planter to break free, but Hodges' left-footed shot cleared the crossbar.

Deadlock broken

Against the run of play, Georges broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as Scott, who had replaced Damion Harwood less than a minute before, found himself between two defenders inside the 18-yard box and fired a right-footed shot while falling to the ground, which beat the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Georges picked up the pace through the skilful Leon Irving, who easily destroyed the Rivoli defence, while dazzling the crowd with his movements and dribbles.

Irving also accounted for a barrage of shots at goal, but Rivoli keeper Marlon Henry made several outstanding saves to deny the attacking midfielder.

"We completely dominated play," said Stewart. "We should have scored no less than five goals and this has come to haunt us as we gave up a very soft goal.

"It is a bit frustrating to have played so well for most parts of the game, only to end up losing on the road," he added. "I will definitely have to review this performance."