André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Sporting a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops, influential Boys' Town midfielder Oniel 'Bigga' Thompson was once again a frustrated figure, as he watched his team's 3-1 win over Highgate in their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) at Collie Smith yesterday.

The Jamaican international has been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury in his right foot since May and explained that each week on the sidelines brings personal struggle.

"It's been tough watching from the sideline, especially when the team does not get the result we want," said Thompson to The Gleaner.

The result was certainly what Thompson and other Boys' Town supporters would have expected, with Michael Campbell (45th), Romeo Parkes (58th) and Khalil Johnson (90th) getting the goals. Carlos Barrett (61st) got on the scoresheet for the visitors.

"I rushed from injury against Arnett Gardens a few games back and it didn't work out too good, so I'm just taking my time and taking care of the injury," Thompson added.

Menacing visitors

For now, the team seems to be doing fine without him, as with the win they moved to 18 points and right in the thick of things with the end-of-round final on the horizon.

Both teams created early openings, with the visitors looking particularly menacing through lanky striker Donovan Davis, Severo Murphy and experienced striker Roen Nelson.

In fact, Nelson should have put the St Mary-based team in front during these early exchanges, but somehow blasted his shot over the crossbar with the goal in touching distance.

The chance came after Boys' Town defender Carlos Wright chested a deep cross from an opposing player in the path of his goalkeeper Kirk Porter. However, the ball fell to Nelson, who, in an insult to his once deadly prowess in front of goal, sent his shot over the post, the venue's perimetre wall and on to Spanish Town Road.

Both teams continued to press; Highgate aiming long, diagonal passes into the channels for Nelson to chase and Boys' Town attacking with menace down both flanks.

Romeo Parkes came close for Boys' Town in the 20th minute, but his header went inches close, before his captain Michael Campbell fired into the side netting from an acute angle seconds later.

Parkes got another sight of goal in the 36th minute, but fired straight at goalkeeper Ralston Robinson, after a Rafiek Thomas dummy at the top of the box.

Boys' Town were pressing and duly found themselves in front on the stroke of half-time, with Campbell getting his head to a ball which nestled into the net, after hitting an upright.

Parkes got the second goal of the game and his second in a Boys' Town jersey, placing a shot low in the far corner after the ball rolled kindly to him from a Robinson save off Thomas' shot.

Highgate's Barrett ensured a tense final few minutes for the hosts, finishing smoothly from a lob from Davis, but Johnson wrapped up the points in time added after more good work from Parkes.

Highgate coach, Calvin Lewis, believes his team didn't make the most of their opportunities.

Yesterday's results

Boys' Town 3 Highgate 1

Cavalier 1 Tivoli 0

Sporting 0 MoBay Utd 1

Waterhouse 0 H View 1

Arnett 1 Savannah 1

Today's game

9 p.m. Portmore United vs Humble Lion at Ferdie Neita Park