Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Champions Portmore United notched their second win of the 2012-13 Red Stripe NPL football season on Wednesday night when they clipped struggling Montego Bay United FC (MBUFC) 2-1 on their home turf at the Montego Bay Stadium in St James.

In what was a disciplined display, the Portmore team secured their victory through goals from Odoah Nickles and former MBUFC striker Mauricio Gordon. The win lifted them to seven points from their five outings. For MBUFC, who were losing their fourth game in five starts to remain on three points, Orlando McBayne was the man on target.

A satisfying performance

"It was a satisfying performance ... the players did what was asked of them in terms of playing as a team," said Portmore's coach Andre Waugh. "We had a lot of possession of the ball tonight and that basically helped us to control the game."

For MBUFC, who were playing their first game since Monday's surprise resignation of their former coach, Brazilian Nedier Dos Santos, new coach Dr Dean Weatherley was somewhat philosophical in defeat.

"It was a creditable performance but our finishing let us down badly," said Weatherley. "We are doing a lot of things right but we need to be more assertive before the goal and at the same time, we need to be tighter in de-fence."

Chance wasted

After a slow start by both teams, MBUFC wasted a great chance to grab the lead in the eighth minute. Brian Brown exploited an opening in the Portmore defence but his fierce shot was struck wide of the goal. A minute later, Portmore United countered well when Gordon dribbled goal-wards but he, too, fired wide.

With both teams trading unsuccessful attacks and the half seemingly headed for a 0-0 stalemate, Portmore took the lead in the 40th minute. Midfielder Ricardo Morris flicked a neat pass to Nickles, who fired in off a defender for a 1-0 half-time lead.

Portmore started the second half looking quite positive and their efforts paid off within six minutes. In the 51st minute, another superb pass by Morris across the face of the goal saw Gordon running and booting home powerfully, making the score 2-0 and putting his team firmly in charge.

MBUFC'S LAST CHANCE

With insults flying at them from their supporters in the stands, MBUFC found the target in the 60th minute when Brown, who had a decent game, rolled a pass into the path of the onrushing McBayne, who crashed home his powerful long-range shot into the goal.

With time running out in the game, MBUFC got and wasted a glorious chance to pull level in the 72nd minute. After initially fumbling badly before the goal, Brown all but scored when his spectacular overhead kick struck the upright and rebounded wide.

On the stroke of full time, Portmore just missed adding to their tally when Gordon got another clear run on goal but, disappointingly, he fired over the cross bar.