H View want full points off Arnett, Boys' Town
published:
Tuesday | December 4, 2007
Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Hyde
HANDED a lifeline to the first round final of the Cash Plus Premier League following Seba United's 1-2 loss to Reno at Jarrett Park on Sunday, defending champions Harbour View aim to make the most of it against Boys' Town and Arnett Gardens, both tough away matches, set for Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
The Stars of the East, who recently returned from Trinidad and Tobago as Caribbean Club Cham-pions, rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 1-0 home win over Tivoli Gardens on Sunday, reviving their hopes of making the bonus final.
Fourth on goal difference
Veteran midfield strongman, Donald 'Fowlie' Stewart, netted the lone goal of a fast-paced match in the seventh minute, pouncing on a second rebound at the far post inside the penalty box during a frantic goalmouth melee.
Harbour View are now fourth on goal difference, sharing 15 points with third place St. Georges and fifth place Tivoli, both of whom have one game left to play in the round.
Seba United are second on 16 points with Portmore United out front on 18 after a 0-0, with Arnett Gardens at home on Sunday.
The two leaders, along with Harbour View, have two games remaining in the round with a big showdown between Portmore and Seba set for Ferdie Neita Park on Thursday.
A loss for Seba would be favourable for Harbour View, but coach Lenny Hyde is leaving nothing to chance.
"The win has put us back there but we have two tough matches left," he said, adding that Tivoli never let-up for the entire 90 minutes. "We played fairly well but it was a high-paced game and it took its toll on our players," he pointed out. "Tivoli put us under a lot of pressure but we stood up well."
However, Hyde was upset that his team would have to go into their next showdown, away at Boys' Town on Thursday, without top striker Kavin Bryan, who along with Tivoli's Akeem Weir, were ejected in the 80th minute.
"Bryan is just coming off a two-match ban and has a red card again tonight. That's indiscipline," the Harbour View coach pointed out.
Meanwhile, Tivoli's Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, thought his team gave the champions a run for their money and should have converted at least one of their chances in the match.
Their best chances were in the 23rd and 89th minutes of the match, but good instinctive goalkeeping by Dwayne Miller and poor technique from striker Jermaine Grey denied the men from Tivoli Gardens at least an equaliser.
Desperate attempt
Horace Howell's back heel attempt from in the six-yard box was sharp, but found Miller in the right spot in the first half.
However, substitute Grey got a marvellous opportunity to repeat a feat he accomplished at home, scoring in the 86th minute for a 1-0 win against Waterhouse on November 14.
Sent on in the 73rd minute by Bailey in a desperate bid to get an equaliser, Grey got his chance in the 89th minute when he was gifted an empty goal from a rebound, which trickled to the left side of the box.
Running on to the ball, he chose to kick with the inside of his right boot, sending his shot and Tivoli's hopes crashing out of play.
