Village handed new-comers Humble Lions their first defeat at home in the Digicel Premier League, winning 2-1 at the Effortville Sports Club in Clarendon on Sunday.

The victory, Village's second of the season, pushed them to 11 points, their best tally after eight games in recent years where they have spent most of the season from start to finish in the bottom tier.

Though heartened by the win, their first on the road after defeat to Tivoli and 0-0 draws against Portmore and Sporting Central, Village's coach Cassman Williams feels his side has much to work on.

"Yes, we got the win, something we planned coming here, but I'm still not happy. We are not playing our best ball game."

Third loss

The loss was the third for the newcomers and pegged them on six points, while trampling any little confidence they had built after keeping home turf unbeaten in four games there so far.

Teofore Bennett, playing in his third match after returning from contract overseas, put the Trelawny team in the lead after 13 minutes, sneaking in to slip the ball over Waldo Ricketts, after the home team defenders were caught much too high supporting attacking forays.

Humble Lions would draw level through Kimroy Davis from the penalty spot in the 31st minute, after Kevin Mighty's fancy footwork allowed Cordel Simpson to slip to the ground and handle the ball in the process.

Gordon scores decider

The home crowd was kept entertained at half-time by a fiery performance from the energetic local dancehall artiste, Merciless. But Village drowned their hopes when substitute Maricio Gordon got their second goal and game winner in the 79th minute, moving in well to beat Ricketts with a header inside the six-yard area.

The goal summed up the hard lessons in marking and goalkeeping that have allowed the home side to utilise three different custodians since the start of the season.

"We failed to track, failed to do the basic things in defending and then that final pass and shot is a problem," said Christopher Bender, Humble Lions' coach. "The fact that we have used three keepers says it all about the problems we have in that area."