Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
HARBOUR VIEW are now two for two and sit atop the standings of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League, following a 1-0 victory over Constant Spring in Wednesday night's fixture at the Harbour View Mini-stadium.
In a fast-paced and lively encounter which saw the teams looking evenly balanced for most of the game, it was newly-appointed captain Lovell Palmer who led by example and made the difference from a 36th minute set piece. Palmer rose high to deliver the telling blow from an inswinging Nicholas Dodd free kick which saw him able to skim a header past Constant Spring goalkeeper Kirk Williams, who could only look on as the ball crept into the corner of the net.
CHANCES TO SNATCH LEAD
Before that goal, both teams had their chances to snatch the lead. Just minutes before Palmer's strike, it looked like Constant Spring would go ahead when Jermaine Richards ran on to an aerial through ball, and beating goalkeeper Leighton Murray to the scene. However, with the goal at his mercy, he headed powerfully over the bar to let the home team off the hook.
A goal down at the start of the second half, a determined Constant Spring searched desperately for the equaliser but the Harbour View defence was up to the task.
Dominating the majority of the play, they seemed to have it about 20 minutes in when Denzil Mitchell, the Wata player of the game for Constant Spring, looked to profit from a dangerous second-half Harbour View trait.
One of the many conceded free kicks just outside the area saw him run on to poke the ball over the head of Murray, but the celebration for Spring was short-lived as he was deemed to be offside.
In the dying moments, Spring once again looked to have an equaliser in the bag when Mitchell played through Nigel Reid for a one-on-one situation with Murray. But the 'keeper was lightning quick off his line and did well to spread himself wide to cut the angle and block the resulting shot, sealing victory for his team.
"Today it was a good goal that was scored against us but we never panicked and this shows the character of the team," Constant Spring coach Christopher Bender said.
SECOND HALF ADJUSTMENTS
"We made some adjustments in the second half, which saw us outplay them and dominate the game, but we never executed our chances," he said.
Come Sunday there may be some good news for Constant Spring as veteran striker Walter Boyd is expected to rejoin the squad for that game. Boyd had been unable to play up to this point due to the late submission of a medical report.
Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles believed it was a tale of two halves for the Stars of the East.
"The first half was very pleasing, we played well and moved the ball around. We should have got about two goals but we only scored one. But the second half was totally disappointing. We didn't follow through and Constant Spring dominated," Hayles said.
Despite the view by many that Harbour View, due to the loss of at least five top players, will not be a force to be reckoned with this season, Hayles remains confident in his team.
"The players are capable. They are playing well and I only believe we will get stronger," he said "I believe we will give a good account of ourselves this season."
SCOREBOARD
HARBOUR VIEW 1
Lovell Palmer 36th
CONSTANT SPRING 0
