Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

Humble Lion rode their luck and came away with a 1-0 victory against the 'Red Brigade' Boys' Town in their Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Effortville Sports Complex in May Pen yesterday.

The Lions were tasting their third consecutive victory and seem to be getting their act together after a slow start in the league.

The all-important goal came in the 44th minute, when Omando McLoud got a gift, in the form of a ball played over the top, which caught the Boys' Town defence flat-footed.

The Lions captain secured possession before calmly lobbing the ball over Boys' Town custodian Kirk Porter and into the back of the net, sending the partisan crowd into wild celebrations.

Boys' Town could have at least come away with a draw, after the speedy Asrick Samuels was clipped from behind in the 18-yard box in the 76th minute. Without hesitation referee Kevin Thomas pointed to the spot, signalling a penalty kick.

The prolific Rafiek Thomas shouldered the penalty-taking responsibility, which he scored in his first attempt but referee Thomas called back the play because a Boys' Town player was deemed to have encroached on the 18-yard box, while the kick was being taken.

The second attempt saw Humble Lion's goalkeeper Garth Heron diving low to his left to parry the ball away to safety and to the anguish of the Boys' Town supporters including a very animated coach, Andrew Price.

Humble Lion assistant coach Max Straw was a relieved man after his team was able to come away with all three points.

"We are gratified with the effort of the players, we still have some things to work on, it wasn't a perfect game as far as we are concerned (but) we got the result after putting up a fight, so we are happy for the win," said Straw.

Andrew Price was disappointed for coming away empty-handed, saying, "I think we played well enough but nothing seemed to go right. We gave up a soft goal at the end of the first half. We got a penalty and the ref called it back for encroachment and the goalkeeper saved it. Maybe it wasn't our day today, we stood out and fought gallantly but we weren't our usual hungry desirous self today and we got caught."