Rivoli hurt Harbour View

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

RIVOLI United put a dent into Harbour View's plans to win the Digicel Premier League when they beat the Stars of the East 3-2 at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The home team got off to a rocket start when Valentine Gardener scored what is believed to be the quickest goal in the Premier League, netting after only 14 seconds.

However, Harbour View made a quick reply, as Marcelino Blackburn equalised from the penalty spot at the fourth minute.

The early scoring trend conti-nued when Rivoli regained the lead in the 10th minute, as Devon Hodges, the league's leading scorer, converted a penalty.

Harbour View's Kevin Wooley, who was deemed to have obstructed Rivoli's Kirk Ramsey on the play that led to the penalty, was ejected by referee Courtney Campbell.

Despite having the numerical disadvantage, Harbour View equalised at the 70th minute when substitute Andre Fagan scored a glancing header, making the score 2-2.

3-2 score

Harbour View continued to string many passes together, but one was intercepted by Hodges, who skilfully back-heeled a pass to Ramsey, who beat his marker and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that flew into the net and made the score 3-2.

"It wasn't a football game that was played today, it was wrestling, and we did not win that, so the players cannot be faulted," commented Donovan Hayles, coach of Harbour View, who started the day atop the standings. They remain on 57 points, but slipped to second by way of an inferior goal difference to defending champions Tivoli Gardens, who beat Village United 1-0.

His counterpart, Oneil Thomas of Rivoli, was upbeat after his team eased their relegating struggle somewhat by moving to 33 points.

"The team played well and it shows that if Hodges get the support, we can do great things.It should have been at least four goals, but it feel good, "Thomas said.

Referee Courtney Campbell had a busy Sunday issuing six yellow cards and one red.

In another game at Brancourt, bottom-placed Portmore United beat Sporting Central Academy 1-0 on a Tremaine Stewart goal at Brancourt, to climb to 30 points. Sporting also have 30 points, but a slightly superior goal difference.