Bright start for Boys' Town

Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Boys' Town head coach, Andrew Price, is even more optimistic about his team's chance of capturing the 2012-2013 Red Stripe Premier League title following their opening round 2-0 victory over promoted Cavalier at Collie Smith Drive.

The Red Brigade's goals were netted by Rafiek Thomas (16th) and substitute Fabian Francis (85th).

Boys' Town finished as runners-up in the two previous campaigns losing out to last season's winners Portmore United by a mere point.

Boys' Town garnered only one point from their opening three games last season after the first two were awarded to their opponents by three-goal margins due to them using the ineligible Marvin Morgan.

"It is always good to get off to a positive start and we are just going to have to take things one game at a time," Price said. "I am happy to get the three points and I want it to be contagious and the team to be consistent and win some games," he added.

It was a very measured performance by Boys' Town, as they always appeared to have the game under control after taking the lead in the 16th minute when Thomas pounced on loose ball after Cavalier's goalkeeper David Mitchell failed to gather a cross.

Boys' Town created a number of other goalscoring opportunities as the half wore on with one of the clearest coming in the 23rd minute when Robert Scarlett was beautifully found in the area by Thomas, but his powerful effort hit the side netting.

The second half saw Boys' Town continuing their dominance and they should have doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when Morgan was neatly played through by Thomas, but he struck the post with his first attempt before his second effort was pushed around the post by Mitchell.

Cavalier, back in the league after a 17-year absence, came agonising close to pulling level in the 75th minute. An innocuous cross by Claudius Blackburn was spilled by Boys' Town's custodian Kirk Porter, but the ball ran along the goal line without going over.

Boys' Town finally put the game to rest in the 85th minute when Francis, who had been on the field for only three minutes, placed a shot inside the far post with the outside of his right foot.

"This wasn't the start we were looking for, but we were up against a good team," Cavalier's coach Lamar Morgan said. "We turned over the ball too many times and when you are playing a quality team like Boys' Town, they will punish you," he added.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com