Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Defending Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) champions, Portmore United, kicked off this season's Monday Night Football with a 1-0 win over Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park.

Stephen Williams, a former Waterhouse player, was the man who provided the highlight, one fitting the occasion, with a 28th-minute strike. The goal gave Portmore United their first points of the season and saw them climb from the foot of the table to ninth position ahead of their next game against Sporting Central Academy on Sunday.

Waterhouse sit in fifth position on four points.

The victory was a welcome relief for coach Andre Waugh, who is in his first season as a head coach in the league.

"I am happy for the win and this is a part of football. There are only three possible results, a win a draw or a loss, and I am no different from anyone else in that I love to win, and it is also my hope that this is the start of our run," a relieved Waugh said.

The style of play, Waugh said, was not typical of team, but one that got them the result they needed.

"We did what we needed to do to win the game and that is good enough for us.

"It was not a typical Portmore game in that we did not maintain possession and pass the ball around a lot as we normally do. We played a physical game and that was a part of the plan ... to win the first balls, the second balls and not to shy away from the 50-50 situations," Waugh explained.

Goalscorer Williams was pleased with his strike.

"My first intention was to go to goal. I got by the challenges and when I saw the space open up I took the shot and it scored and I am very happy for that," the beaming 21-year-old explained.

not best performance

Waterhouse's Donovan Duckie felt his team did not play well in the first half.

"This was not one of our best performances. We did not play very well in the midfield in the first half as a number of our midfielders were off. We made some changes in the second half and they improved our performance, but we were not able to capitalise," Duckie said.

He was also gracious in defeat.

"Congratulations are due to Portmore United, though, as they played well and took their chance. It was a good goal from young Stephen Williams; he created and took his chance well," he added.