Harbour View executed the perfect counter-attacking game to blank Dunbeholden 2-0 in their final Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match of the first round at Stadium East yesterday.
Goals from Shaquille Bradford in the 15th minute and Jahshaun Anglin from the penalty spot in the 84th gave the former champions a much-needed three points.
Harbour View move one place higher in the points standing to 10th on 15 points, while Dunbeholden remained sixth on 21.
Harbour View’s coach, Ludlow Bernard, told STAR Sports he was pleased with their defending.
“What is important for me is the defensive work that we put in because that has been our failings all season. We did a lot of work and few adjustments. I am seeing some signs that we are getting there,” said Bernard.
“I still think we need to focus on defending in the middle of the park a little bit better, especially against teams like these, and then our composure when we are on the ball could be better,” he said.
The veteran coach said he was surprised to see Dunbeholden lining up without the league’s joint top scorer, Nicholas Nelson, and star midfielder, Fabion McCarthy.
“We had planned for them. We knew exactly what we were up against, and when we saw some people not starting the game, we knew what would happen. Our bench is getting a little stronger, which allowed us to resort to it the way we did,” Bernard disclosed.
Dunbeholden had the lion’s share of ball possession but were sterile in the final third, as they met on a resolute Harbour View defence.
Bernard admitted that the plan was to concede possession to the St Catherine-based outfit and hit them on the counterattack.
“We knew we weren’t going to have a lot of possession in this game based on how they have been playing throughout, but I think from the first half the counters could have been more clinical, then probably we would have gotten more out of the game,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dunbeholden’s coach, Lenworth Hyde, believes their overzealousness prevented them from turning possession into goals.
“We created chances but just never finished,” he said, adding that the absence of McCLarty was a contributory factor.
“Of course, he was missed today. We would have been more settled and kept possession more. We were anxious, excited and less calm in front of the goal,” Hyde added.
In the day’s other game, Cavalier moved within one point of first place Mount Pleasant after defeating Humble Lion 2-1 in an earlier encounter at the same venue.
Captain Gadail Irving scored in the seventh minute before striker Shaniel Thomas added the second in minute 20th. Irving also scored an own goal in the 37th minute to give Humble Lion hope.
The second round of matches in the league will begin Wednesday.
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