Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Portmore United's Sheldon Palmer (right) slips by Jermaine Bailey of Boys' Town during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League encounter at Collie Smith Drive yesterday. Palmer scored his team's second goal as Portmore won 4-1. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

PORTMORE UNITED continued their climb up the table with an emphatic 4-1 whipping of Boys' Town in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League game at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Former champions Portmore jumped two places to fifth in the standings on 10 points, while Boys' Town remain on eight points in sixth position.

The bow-legged Carlington Smith grabbed a brace in the 18th and 60th minutes and was ably supported by Sheldon Palmer in the 56th and substitute Steven Morrissey in the 84th.

George Vernal had briefly reduced the deficit for the home team in the 76th minute.

Winning coach Paul Young was pleased with his team's performance as it found its shooting boots. "We were very disciplined today and very comprehensive in every department. We took control of the game and I am proud of the players," Young said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Price, coach of Boys' Town, said his players turned in their worst performance in many years.

No effort

"The effort wasn't there and we are going to have to make some sweeping changes. We played for 10 minutes in the entire game. It was an awful and lethargic performance and in my history as a coach at Boys' Town, this is the worst performance they have put down," Price said.

He added: "They just didn't turn up. They were there physically but not in mind. We were playing as if we were playing at Ferdie Neita Park or Prison Oval."

Portmore, who had problems scoring early in the season, have now hit their stride and have banged in seven goals in the past three games.

Smith opened the scoring when he rose unchallenged to head home a Jason Morrison free kick in the 19th minute to silence the home supporters.

Palmer doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a swerving 25-metre shot that wrong-footed substitute 'keeper Kirk Porter in goal.

Four minutes later, Smith grabbed his second by slotting home from close range after Morrison and Morrissey destroyed the Boys' Town backline with some neat passes.

Boys' Town's Vernal scored probably the goal of the game with a rasping shot that flew past national goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers from the edge of the box.

But the lively Morrissey was not to be denied and he added his name to the scoresheet, beating a defender before firing a left-footer past Porter.

Portmore United 4 (Carlington Smith 19th, 60th, Sheldon Palmer 56th, Steven Morrissey 84th)

Boys' Town 1 (George Vernal 76th)