Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

HARBOUR VIEW and Portmore Strikers played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg Sherwin Williams Women's Premier League final, while Olympic Gardens carved out a 2-1 win over Meadhaven in the A League final at Constant Spring yesterday.

With the return leg set for Saturday, former champions Portmore Strikers and Harbour View have everything to play for, while Olympic Gardens looks good with a slight one-goal advantage.

In the curtain-raiser, goals by Alicia Mullings (sixth minute) and Kelly-Ann Simpson (59th), gave Olympic Gardens a precious win after Jodi-Ann Smith had equalised in the 17th minute.

However, the two-game series is far from over and the A League title is still up for grabs.

In the feature encounter, Harbour View, boasting several national players, took an early lead through Tanisha Vassell who fired home from just outside the box in the sixth minute.

Harbour View continued to dominate but failed to increase their tally and went into the break only a goal up.

But things were looking rosier for Harbour View as Portmore's star striker, Venecia Reid, was substituted for dissent by coach Cornell Clarke at the break.

But Rochelle Bryan clawed back things for the white-and-red clad Portmore girls in the 50th minute. The towering striker picked up a ball in the middle of the park and shook off a feeble challenge before firing a speculative shot from some 35 metres.

Total joy

The ball sailed over the head of national goalkeeper Paula Jackson and lodged into the back of the net to the amazement of the supporters, but total joy for the Portmore faithful.

Harbour View, through the efforts of Kimmia Parker, Shanique Mitchell, Nicole Bell, Shakira Duncan and Peta-Gaye Soman, tried in vain to break down a stubborn Portmore defence, well marshalled by Jacqueline Simpson and Neisha Forbes.

Vin Blaine, coach of Harbour View, was a disappointed man and lamented his team's missed chances that could haunt them on Saturday.

Said Blaine: "I am very disappointed. We should have won this game by three goals. It would have been nice if we had gone in two goals up on them."

Cornell Clarke, coach of Portmore Strikers, said the result was a fair one as his team took control in the second half.

As for Reid's, Clarke said: "It was a harsh decision, but we at Portmore don't put up with indiscipline."