Boys' Town Garfield Gillespie (centre) is challenged by Village United's Phillip Hall (left) and Jonathan Yahnoa during yesterday's Digicel Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive. Boys' Town won 3-0. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

DENZIL WATSON scored a brace for Boys' Town as they beat Village United 3-0 yesterday in the Digicel Premier League.

In the Collie Smith Drive contest, Boys' Town took advantage of a rusty Village United team.

Village, who held their own for a third of the first half, were set back by George Vernal's opening goal in the 17th minute.

Vernal, who received a gift when his pass from atop the 18-yard box returned to his feet, fired past Elvis Heat in Village's goal.

A vibrant Boys' Town team, backed by a small turnout, created a few more attacks but poor passing in their opponents half denied them further inroads in the opening stanza.

As the second half began, Boys' Town took the attack to Village and had things their own way.

Good shot

Vernal came close to scoring his second goal but he failed to get off a good shot from within the six-yard box.

Five minutes later, 56th minute, Watson took advantage of a Village defence which was caught napping to score his first goal, a gentle slide into the far corner.

Village, who found themselves trailing by two goals, were forced to step up their game and led by second-half substitute Fabian Dawkins looked more purposeful.

Dawkins' speed and brilliant passes helped create some good attacks for Village, but, apart from a Jonathan Yahnoa header which crashed into the upright, not many shots threatened.

Cordell Simpson also had a shot on goal for Village, one which was too powerful for Boys' Town goalkeeper Kirk Porter to hold, but it was deflected wide.

Then Watson, who received a midfield pass, dribbled a few yards before slotting past Hart at his near post in the 82nd.

Now 3-0 down, Village again had a few more attacks on goal, but good defending kept them at bay.

Credit to fitness

Andrew Price, Boys' Town coach, said fitness was what brought his team such impressive victory.

"We showed that we have superior fitness over the Village team," he said. "getting an early goal really put them under pressure and we were able to run them throughout the entire game," he added.

Price also expressed satisfaction with the wide margin of victory.

"To score three goals in a game after a two-week break is not a bad outing and getting three points at home is very important," he added, while looking forward to Reno this weekend. Paul 'Tegat' Davis, who was in charge of his second game at Village since returning to the Trelawny-based club, said his team started playing late.

"I think we played better and the football we should have played when we were down 3-0," said Davis, who blamed his side's earlier efforts on poor shooting.