Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Meadhaven United's Rohan Williams celebrates after scoring the teams second goal against Wadadah in the National Premier League (NPL) playoff at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Meadhaven won the game 2-1. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

MEADHAVEN UNITED and Rivoli were quickest out the blocks and managed to secure the early advantage, following 2-1 and 4-1 wins over Wadadah and York as the National Premier League (NPL) playoffs got underway yesterday.

Following a tame first half, a furious second half spell of football by Rivoli eventually saw them blow away a battling York, who had been very resilient at the York Sports Complex.

Dwayne Hunter broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, veteran striker Devon Hodges added another goal in the 62nd, and Derrick Planter (71st) and Fidel Anderson (85th) closed out the scoring for the St Catherine team. York secured a late consolation goal through Marvin Powell in time added on.

Dominant Meadhaven

At the Constant Spring Complex a dominant Meadhaven pushed their noses in front through striker Leighton Neita in the 20th minute. Neita sprinted on to a long Dwayne Williams pass out of midfield, which had eluded two colliding Wadadah defenders, allowing the advancing forward to place the ball wide of Wadadah custodian Mark Williams. However, Wadadah captain Rohan Reid ensured that the western team were on level footing seven minute later. The towering Reid leapt high at the back post from a corner to head the ball over the head of a stranded Meadhaven keeper Andrew Gibson, who had come for the cross but failed to collect the ball.

Meadhaven United would restore their advantage in the 36th minute, from a set-piece of their own, as Rohan Williams rushed into the area to blast home a Keammar Daley corner from just inside the area.

The KSAFA team should have added to their lead in the 82nd minute, but after being awarded a penalty for a handball in the area, saw centre half Robert Palmer stutter up nervously before booting the ball right into the path of Wadadah keeper Mark Williams.

"This was the result we wanted, we should have played better but a win at home is just what we needed," said Meadhaven coach Alrick Clarke.

"We have a lot of very young players, they lack a lot of experience in some respects but I am looking for them to get stronger as the competition progresses," he added.

Despite dropping crucial points in what is expected to be a tough competition Wadadah coach Delroy Delisser believes his team needs to finding some goals.

Important home game

"Once we don't score goals we are always going to be in trouble, but we have to come back and try again," he said.

"We lost this game away from home, congratulations to Meadhaven but we have to brush ourselves off for an important home game," he said.

On Wednesday Wadadah will host York United at the UDC field in Montego Bay while Meadhaven will travel to the Rio Cobre field where they face early group leaders Rivoli United.

Meadhaven 2

(Leighton Neita 20th, Rohan Williams 36th)

Wadadah 1

(Rohan Williams 27th)

Rivoli United 4

(Dwayne Hunter 57th, Devon Hodges 62nd, Derrick Planter 71st, Fidel Anderson 85th)

York 1

(Marvin Powell 90th)