Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Village United's Ian McAnuff prepares to kick the ball, while Harbour View's Keith Kelly (left) reacts during their Cash Plus Premier League football match at Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday. Harbour View won 3-0. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Defending champions Harbour View swatted the tiny monkey off their backs following a convincing 3-0 win over a struggling Village United, for their first win of this Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) season, at the Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday.
The title-holders started off the season in somewhat jittery fashion, following a 0-0 draw at home to new boys St. Georges and then another stalemate, a 1-1 draw with Reno at St. Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS). They now have five points, while Village's tally remained the point it took in a drawn home game against Tivoli Gardens.
However, yesterday the Stars of the East looked more than comfortable as they bossed around a Village team, who have themselves started out the season a bit under the weather with one point in three games.
"The three points were very important to us today, we needed them, I think we could have played a bit better but I'm glad for the three points," said Harbour View coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr.
"I wasn't nervous, we are always confident, but I told the guys don't be overconfident, today we relaxed and got the win," he added.
First goal
Striker Gregg Taylor fired home the team's first goal in the 24th minute. Finding himself loosely marked at the back post after a cross from Ricardo Smith eluded two defenders, the forward easily side-footed home. Smith had been released down the flank by a pass from midfielder Keith Kelly, who looked sharp in his first start of the season.
A driving run from Harbour View last man Jermaine Taylor, ended with striker Fabian Taylor sliding in to score a second goal one minute before half-time.
Captain Lovel Palmer would seal the deal for the title-holders, when he finished off a looping Fabian Taylor cross to the back post, after Gregg Taylor had misfired.
Best chance
With limited spells of positive possession, Village's best chance of the match came in the first 45 minutes, but Rohan Reid's powerful shot to goal was gobbled up by Harbour View custodian, Michaud Barrett, on the second time of asking before a rushing Kemar Mills could get a boot to the ball.
"Every game that we have played so far we have given up goals, we have a big defensive problem," lamented Village's new coach, Kendale Mercury.
"I don't think Harbour View did anything exceptional in creating the goals, we made a lot of mistakes and lost because of poor defending," he added. "It's not a good start but there is still a long way to go."
| Harbour View | 3 |
Gregg Taylor 24th Fabian Taylor 44th Lovel Palmer 80th Village | 0 |
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