Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

Portmore United clipped Harbour View 1-0 at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night to top the Coca-Cola National U-21 League's mid-season final.

The all-important goal came from the boot of Steven Morrissey in the 76th minute.

Portmore went into the game the slight favourites. Harbour View had struggled in their last five games while Portmore registered four wins, scoring 11 goals and conceding only one.

Confidence was also high in the Portmore camp as their squad was bolstered by some of the best players in the league, including recent national invitee Eric Vernon, Morrissey and Carlos Barrett.

In a relatively fast-paced first half, play was centred in the midfield with both teams making the occasional raid on goal.

Harbour View's hopes dipped in the 39th minute when they lost Paul Grant to an ankle injury following a collision with Portmore United's Michael Binns. Binns was shown a yellow card following the incident.

Failed attempts

Both teams failed to capitalise on opportunities to score in the half. Most of their shots either found the arms of the goalkeepers or the outside of the net.

Vernon lifted his play at the start of the second half as he took full control of the left flank. He provided the pass midway the half for Morrissey to hit past goalkeeper Dwayne Miller.

Desmond Smith, coach of Portmore United, said his team was confident and prepared for the final. According to Smith, the team decided it would not be a repeat of last year's encounters in which they lost twice in the end-of round finals.

"The game was very competitive. We were prepared, the goal-keeper blundered and we capitalised on his mistake," he said.

Meanwhile, Ludlow Bernard, coach of Harbour View, was pleased with his team's performance despite the defeat.

"We knew from the beginning that it would be a tough game ... the loss here today will not affect our performance in the league and we will be moving on full speed ahead," Bernard said.