Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Reno central defender Dwayne Williams (centre) tries to clear the ball before Harbour View's Kemar Petrekin (right) has a chance to tackle, while Howard Merrick (left) looks on from a distance in Wray and National Premier League action at the Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday. Harbour View won the game 2-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Harbour View maintained their perfect start to the Wray and Nephew National Premier League season, snatching their third straight win with a 2-1 triumph over previously unbeaten Reno at the Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday.

After a scoreless first half which saw both teams squander opportunities to take the lead, substitute Rafiek Thomas put Harbour View in front from the spot in the 73rd minute. A bustling Thomas was brought down in the area and then took the responsibility of putting his team ahead rolling wide of Reno custodian Dwayne Kerr.

The crafty Kavin Bryan then finished things off for last year's runners-up with a superb bit of individual play in the 81st minute. Bryan picked up the ball just inside his own half, eluded a challenge and sprinted by Reno last man Dwayne Williams, after a return pass from substitute Lenworth Hyde Jr. Stranded in no man's land, Reno keeper Kerr could only watch Bryan's chip bulge the back of the net, snatching his third goal in as many games.

But Reno may have felt a little hard done by the final score, as while Harbour View looked the better team in the first half, they certainly looked the more positive team at the start of the second. In fact Reno could have taken the lead eight minutes after the resumption, when Kevon Grant blasted to the far post from just outside the right side of the eighteen yard area, but his 52nd minute attempt was just held on at full stretch by Harbour View custodian Michaud Barrett.

Late consolation goal

Striker Kirk Wright certainly looked to have put them in the lead from a 60th minute cross, but darting to the near post, his header looked to have Barrett beaten but flashed just wide of the far post. A loosely marked Wright did, however, manage to net a late consolation for the westerners when he slotted past Barrett in the 90th minute.

"I was pleased with the team's performance, I think the last goal was a bit soft, but three points is always important and I'm glad we got it here today," said Harbour View coach Lenworth Hyde, who has seen his team net six goals in three games.

For Reno assistant coach Aaron Lawrence who saw his team slump to their first loss of the season the performance was a satisfactory one.

"I think we played well, but we made some mistakes which cost us the game." he said.

"We definitely need to do some work on our finishing and we will be going back to the drawing board in terms of looking at that," he added.

Harbour View