Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Newly-promoted August Town FC won their first match of the 2006-07 Wray and Nephew National Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Village United at Elliston Wakeland Complex on Sunday.
Jermaine Richards in the seventh minute and Aphas Bernard in the 66th provided the ammunition for the victory which had coach Christopher Bender smiling broadly.
"This performance is a continuation of the work that we have been doing. Last week we played well against Portmore United, created chances but did not score. This week we combined the offense and the defense and we got the goals," a pleased Bender said at the end of the game.
Despite looking a shadow of the team which had beaten Seba United the previous week, Village United should have taken the lead as early as the first minute when Newton Sterling failed to find the back of the August Town net. That miss was to haunt them as just six minutes later Richards collected a pass on the right of the 18-yard box and drove a well-placed shot across goalkeeper Leighton Murray into the goal.
August Town continued to enjoy the better of the scrappy play, but Village should have drawn level in the 25th minute as Omar Allen took too long to pull the trigger and was robbed of the opportunity.
On the stroke of half time Troy Smith provided a lovely cross for the towering Sterling but his header could not beat the goalkeeper.
Violent conduct
The flow of the game continued in the second half and Village were to find themselves in deeper trouble when Leon Irving was sent off just 11 minutes into the half for what referee Howard Stennett deemed violent conduct.
Ten minutes later Village slipped further behind when Bernard capitalised on the indecision of the Village defence to collect a left-sided cross and shoot home.
Village made a number of changes but could not open their account.
"August Town came out wanting it more than us. I think the euphoria of the win last week brought this. We were very low, had no movement or anything. One of the things that we have to learn is to build on what we have done. We cannot really live in the past," Village's coach Dr. Dean Weatherly said.
"There are 12 teams in the league and everyone can play. We did not expect August Town to come here today and lie down. They came and they wanted it more and the sad thing about it is that we gave it to them," he added.
Points standing
| Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | | Harbour View | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
Waterhouse | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | |
| Reno | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| Wadadah | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
August Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Seba | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| Village | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 | |
| Boys' Town | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Naggo Head | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 | |
| Tivoli Gardens | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 | |
| Portmore | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | |
| Arnett Gardens | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
village |
