Giant-killing Savannah stun Harbour View

Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

DEBUTANTS Savannah Sports Club continued their fairy-tale run to life in the Red Stripe Premier League with another giant-killing display for their second massive win, with a 1-0 scoreline over Harbour View Sunday at Frome Sports Complex.

Striker Shane Anderson benefitted from a rather fortuitous circumstance in the 90th minute to tap home with the Harbour View goalkeeper Ashek Taylor out of position.

The win moved them to six points from two outings, while Harbour View stayed on three after winning their opening game.

Outstanding saves

Yesterday's match started slowly while the teams searched for rhythm, but it was the visitors who settled quicker, with Jermaine Hue testing Gavin Barrett in the Savannah goal - the keeper saving from point-blank range.

It was to be one of several outstanding saves from Barrett, who again came up trumps when he blocked a clear chance from Jermie Lynch on the 15-minute mark.

Savannah, playing at home in front of a jam-packed Frome Sports Complex, picked up the pace and made a couple of punts at goal through Shemar Bernard.

In the 36th minute, the home side counted their lucky stars again when Lynch was denied what appeared to be a certain goal, only to be robbed of the chance by Bernard's timely tackle in the 18-yard area.

With the game set for a stalemate, Anderson forced Taylor to mishandle the ball, which rolled from his arm before slotting into the empty goal, to spark scenes of wild celebration.

Patrick Graham, the Savannah coach: "This win is for the supporters. They came here today and we are happy to win our first Premier League match in front of them.

"We kept our players behind the ball when we needed to, and never allowed Harbour View space to come at us. In the back, we played compact and the goal just topped it off. It was a good win, two-from-two is more than we could've asked for," said Graham.

A disappointed Vin Blaine, Harbour View's head coach, said the wet underfoot conditions were heavy for his players, noting that the loss was never what they travelled for.

"We came here to win this match, so to lose it in the fashion we did is unfortunate. But I thought we played well in stages," he said.