Sport

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

August Town secured their first-ever victory over Harbour View in the Digicel Premier League, when they came from behind to earn a dramatic 2-1 win at UWI Bowl, Mona, yesterday.

Kavin Bryan gave the Stars of the East the lead, but Daniel Shaw cancelled out his goal before Devon Haughton's late penalty secured all three points for August Town.

Tivoli Gardens capitalised on Harbour View's loss to jump into the lead, after thumping Sporting Central Academy 4-0 at Brancourt. Roland Dean scored twice, while Dane Kelly and Jameel Thompson scored the other goals for Tivoli.

Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens are now on 51 points, but Tivoli head the standings with a superior goal difference.

Harbour View, meanwhile, have a game in hand.

Contractual agreement

For yesterday's match, August Town, who were without their influential coach Paul Young, who returned to Atlanta, United States, to fulfill his contractual agreement, snapped Harbour View's four-game winning streak as they moved into the top six on 31 points.

The first half did not have much to offer, but the game sprang to life in the second half with a goal coming three minutes after the restart.

Harbour View played a long ball out of defence, which eluded an August Town defender before falling to Jermaine Hue on the half line. He then played a beautiful through ball to Bryan, who fired past the outrushing keeper.

August Town had to wait until the 66th minute before they were gifted an equaliser. Harbour View's keeper, Dwayne Miller, was adjudged to have committed a six-second violation, resulting in an indirect free kick being awarded to August Town on the edge of the 18-yards box. The ball was rolled off to Shaw, whose powerful drive rocketed into the net.

August Town would not settle for a draw and brought on Fabian Dawkins in the 67th minute, despite him nursing an injury. Dawkins' introduction paid off on the stroke of full time when he ran on to a ball in the Harbour View box and was brought down by Richard Edwards, resulting in a penalty.

August Town's keeper and penalty specialist, Haughton, stepped up and expertly slotted home to spark wild celebrations.

Harbour View's coach, Donovan Hayles, blamed the loss on carelessness.

"We controlled possession of the ball but I think we were lackadaisical, we weren't moving the ball as quickly as we wanted to," said Hayles. "We gave up two goals that were unforced errors, and it cost us."

Dwight Morgan, coach of August Town, was very elated with his team's first league win over Harbour View.

Morgan said: "It is a wonderful feeling. Since we have been in the Premier League, we haven't beaten Harbour View.

"We played a disciplined and tactical game today and it paid off for us. Our objective in the third round is to push for the top six," he added.

August Town 2 Harbour View 1

Sporting Central 0 Tivoli Gardens 4

Rivoli United 0 Arnett Gardens 1

St Georges 2 Waterhouse 2

Humble Lion 0 Boys' Town 0

LATE: Portmore United vs Village

Standings

Teams P W D L GF GA GD PTS Tivoli 27 13 12 2 42 18 24 51 H View 26 15 6 5 31 16 15 51 W'house 27 12 6 9 29 29 0 42 Boys' Town 27 10 9 8 23 18 5 39 St Georges 26 9 11 6 22 17 5 38 August Twn 27 8 7 12 24 36 -12 31 Rivoli 27 6 12 9 26 27 -1 30 Sporting 27 6 12 9 22 26 -4 30 H Lion 27 6 10 11 20 29 -9 28 Portmore 25 6 9 10 16 22 -6 27 Village 26 5 12 9 20 29 -9 27 Arnett 26 6 8 12 23 31 -8 26