By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterHARBOUR View scored a shock win over defending champions Portmore United in the fifth round of the 2003-04 Wray & Nephew-sponsored National Premier League at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday.
In a match which saw action swinging from end to end Jomo Gordon scored the decisive goal in the 76th minute to hand the defending champions their first defeat of the season.
It was a fight from the start, with neither team allowing the other to settle and possession went from team to team with a frequency unwanted by the football enthusiast. It was Harbour View who looked more suited to this type of play and it was they who created the first real opportunity of the game.
This wasn't to last however, as Portmore soon settled and enjoyed the majority of possession. Their renowned attacking capabilities were put on hold by some stout Harbour View defending and the game went into half time without either team being able to break the deadlock.
Harbour View came out in the second half trying to soak up pressure and catch Portmore on the counter. The ploy looked dangerous to say the least, as Portmore, despite having to play against a team with nine men behind the ball, created numerous opportunities and should have scored on a number of occasions. Stout tackling from national representative Damion Stewart and Clifton Waugh, who were amply covered by young Christopher Harvey, denied the home team.
Portmore United made a number of changes in the second half, substituting defensive players for their more attacking counterparts, making their intentions clear. The gutsy move by Portmore coach, Lenworth Hyde seemed to be paying dividends as substitute, Damion Williams seemed to be creating scoring opportunities for Portmore at will.
The Harbour View goal was created by ace forward Fabian Taylor.
Taylor, who had been having a tough outing against Portmore's Sheldon Battiste, finally got some space in front of goal and drove a hard low shot at goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, who failed to hold on. Harbour View were first to react to the rebound, giving Gordon his second goal in as many matches.
After the game Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles said: "I must say that I am very pleased. Portmore had better ball possession, but what we did was stay behind the ball and make sure that they didn't have possession in dangerous areas and that paid off.
"They weren't overawed by the fact that they were playing the defending champions, these youngsters are prepared to put their names down in the history books," he added
A subdued Lenworth Hyde said: "It's a tough loss, we had possession of the ball but our finishing let us down again. We need to work on that because we had the possession and the patience, we just didn't score."
