Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
VILLAGE UNITED ensured they stayed in the top half of the points tables at the end of the first round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) with a convincing 5-0 thrashing of newcomers Arlington at the Prison Oval on Sunday.
Two goals each from former national player Shane Crawford, who came on as a substitute and Damion Anderson, after left back Gregory Simpson, had given the Trelawny team the lead in the 32nd minute and propelled them to their widest margin of victory in the NPL in the last two seasons.
Arlington was losing their first game under Geoffrey Maxwell, who had two stints at Village.
Village scored four goals in one game three times last season, beating relegation bound Seba United 4-0 at Jarrett Park in April. They hammered parish rivals Invaders 4-1 in February and were 4-2 winners over Star Cosmos in January, as they qualified for their second straight semi-finals.
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Prior to Sunday, Village had scored three goals in one game once this season, a 3-3 draw away to Constant Spring and two goals once, a draw at Reno.
Sunday's win, Village's third in a row, improved their points tally to 14 from 11 games after they had to wait until the sixth game to get their first win, and keeps them in sixth place.
None of the two other western clubs in action managed to pick up a point, as Reno was edged
2-1 at Tivoli Gardens their fifth loss while Invaders gave up two goals in the last few minutes to go down 4-0 to Rivoli at the Elliston Wakeland Centre.
The youthful Reno has lost two straight games and is stuck on 10 points, while Invaders is tied with Constant Spring and Arlington on seven points each.
Last-placed Wadadah was idle, as their opponents, Harbour View, were without five players who were away on national duties and given an exemption by the Jamaica Football Federation. The game will be played next Wednesday, December 22 at Jarrett Park.
Wadadah is on six points, managing one win all season long and has conceded the most goals so far - 28.
