Paul A. Reid, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
RELEGATION-BOUND Invaders won their first game since October in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) after upsetting CFU Caribbean Club champions Harbour View 1-0 in the first game of a double header at Jarrett Park yesterday.
Delroy Ellis scored the winner in the 71st minute for the Trelawny team to register only their second win all season after beating Wadadah at Jarrett Park, as they avenged a first-round 3-1 loss to Harbour View.
Despite the loss, however, Harbour View are assured of a place in the semi-finals after Arnett Gardens were beaten 5-0 by Waterhouse.
Donovan Hayles, Harbour View's coach, said: "We came here today believing we had already won this game and hence we paid the price. Yes, we have played a few back-to-back tough games and it might have taken a toll but nevertheless we dominated totally. But our approach was wrong and we paid the price."
Oliver Brown, who was in charge of the Invaders team, said: "We are still fighting and this is a result of hard work. We are restructuring the team. This win against Harbour View is a big thing for us," he said.
CLOSE-RANGE MISSES
Despite Harbour View dominating from the start, it was Invaders who created the first two chances but Paul Hardy missed both in the 11th and 19th minutes from close range.
Marcelino Blackburn had Harbour View's best chance in the 23rd minute when he was left unmarked, but headed Orville Campbell's cross over the bar.
Ellis, who hit the upright in the 54th minute, made certain in the 71st when he got behind the Harbour View defence and gave goalkeeper Ryan Thompson no chance with a well-taken goal, beating the national Under-20 'keeper low to his left.
Harbour View stormed back in response and practically camped out in the Invaders' half but failed to get even the equaliser.
