Portmore make winning start

Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter

PORTMORE UNITED began the defence of their Red Stripe Light Beach Futbol in exciting if not emphatic fashion after they came from behind twice to eke out a 4-3 win over Waterhouse in the opening game of the tournament's second renewal at Hellshire Beach yesterday.

Portmore were aided by a double from Ricardo Cousins, who opened the scoring for the defending champions in the 16th minute before adding to his tally in the 30th. Sheldon Palmer's 25th minute strike along with a goal from Ryan Powell in the 35th minute were also invaluable.

For Waterhouse, Kirk Ramsey's brace in the 10th and 26th minutes added to Kirk Fletcher's 31st minute goal proved not to be enough.

In a very high scoring game yesterday, St. George's out of Portland introduced themselves to this season of Beach Futbol with a bang after they dispatched Maverley Hughenden 7-3.

HIGHEST SCORER

During the mauling, St. Georges' Damion Harwood put himself in line for the competition's highest scorer after he knocked home six goals.

Harwood put his team in the lead from as early as the fifth minute before scoring again in the seventh, 17th, 19th, 28th and 33rd minutes .

For the losers, Phillip Peddie had a hat-trick, scoring in the 11th, 15th and 16th minutes.

Arnett Gardens and Naggo Head played in what was probably the most difficult game of the afternoon for the spectators. To Arnett's credit though, they fought off their inability to excite the fans to manage a 3-1 win.

In the most drama-filled game of the day, the clash between Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens never failed to excite, entice, and create suspense, being the only game to go to the dread of sudden death penalties.

HAT-TRICK

After a five-all draw, where Loxley Thomas had a hat-trick for Harbour View and Navion Boyd and Ryan Reid scored braces for Tivoli, the decider came after Ondino Griffiths, who was also on the scoresheet, scored his penalty and watched with glee as Reid had his saved by goalkeeper Michaud Barrett.

Seba and Village were hard to separate yesterday, although Village showed a little more finesse going forward. The individual brilliance of some of Seba's players kept them in the game for long spells but they eventually crumbled to concede a late goal and lose 4-5.

The final game of the day left the patrons eager to return for more next week, as newcomers Humble Lion were thrashed 8-4 by perennial challengers for the top spot, Constant Spring.

Spring benefited from a Shawn Hunter brace and a Jermaine Richards hat-trick to send them on the way, after Humble Lion stayed competitive with an early brace from Damion Barrett.