Lions humbled in the rain by Harbour View
AS THE rain poured, so did the goals as Harbour View defeated Humble Lion 4-2 in yesterday’s encounter in the Wray & Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League at the Stadium East field.
Goals on either side of the half from David Reid, Odorland Harding, Jahshaun Anglin and Omar Thompson lifted Harbour View to a much-needed three points. Substitute James Thomas scored a brace for Humble Lion late in the game.
Harbour View created the better chances of the two teams and came close to the opener in the 24th minute. Andre Fagan’s run behind the defence was picked out by a brilliant ball over the top but a heavy touch from the striker squandered the chance.
Harbour View took the lead in the 30th minute when Reid showed some individual brilliance as he took the ball down in his chest, evaded his marker and fired home to open the scoring.
The Stars of the East would return just on the stroke of halftime to double their lead as captain Harding latched on to a perfectly weighted ball from his midfield and chipped the ball calmly over the goalkeeper.
Harbour View added their third for the night in the second half after a string of passes set Anglin free in the box and the Jamaican international made no mistake as he buried the ball into the roof of the net.
Thompson sealed the win in the 70th minute when he was the quickest to the ball after Fagan’s effort was blocked by the goalkeeper. Scrambling in the rain, Thompson fired home from 12 yards out for the night’s fourth of the game.
Humble Lion’s Thomas got his first of the night just five minutes later when he received the ball in acres of space just inside the box. Despite Harbour View’s defenders best effort, Thomas’ shot found the back of the net.
Thomas scored his second in the dying embers of the game, sparing some blushes for the Humble Lion team.
Humble Lion’s head coach Vassell Reynolds said his team’s slow start in the first half was their undoing as they fell into a deficit too deep to dig their way out.
“One of our better first 30 minutes but then we fell asleep for the rest of the first half. We dug a hole for ourselves when we went 3-0 down and against a Harbour View team, it was also going to be difficult to come back.”
On the other hand, Harbour View head coach Ludlow Bernard said despite the win, there is still a lot of work to be done by his team if they are to get into the playoffs.
“Today we scored four goals. One good thing is that persons are arriving in good positions to take advantage but the grand disappointment is how we conceded those goals so late in the game,” Bernard said.