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Sport

Rookie Savannah continue fairytale run

HOWARD WALKER Observer Senior Reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, September 20, 2012



PROMOTED Savannah FC's fairytale run continued in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) following their third consecutive win to move top of the league after three rounds.

The Westmoreland outfit, that are odds on favourites to be relegated at the end of the season, came from behind to defeat Cavalier 2-1 at the Stadium East field, following victories over powerhouses Portmore United and Harbour View.

They are sole leader of the RSPL with nine points, two more than Arnett Gardens on seven and with Sporting Central and Boys' Town in third and fourth on six points each.

The Patrick Graham-conditioned team, which has a huge following from the Burnt Savannah community, are a replica of their coach in his playing days.

They are well organised and although not the most talented team, they are doing the right things at the moment, hence their surprise rise to the summit after three games.

Can they maintain it? This is left to be seen, but they are mostly expected to soon falter as did Benfica of St Ann, a few seasons ago.

Nevertheless, Savannah are the leaders and with a home game against Tivoli Gardens this Sunday, the Westmoreland faithful are expecting another giant-killing act.

Meanwhile, the much-loved Monday Night Football returned and so did the form of defending champion Portmore United in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park.

It was the first win for Portmore in their last six games dating back to March 25 when they clipped Arnett Gardens 3-2. In their last five games in the run-up to the championship, Portmore failed to win and only got the title by a single point.

It was a welcome win for the champion as they moved off the bottom of the table and into ninth spot with three points.

Arnett Gardens slipped a spot to second after they could only muster a 0-0 draw away to Highgate United at Drax Hall to be on seven points, while Highgate slipped to 11th on two points.

Clarendon-based Humble Lion also registered their first win by edging Montego Bay United 1-0 for their first points while condemning the St James team to their third consecutive loss.

Meanwhile, discarded midfielder Jermaine Hue is, at age 34, currently the leading goalscorer with three goals from three games following his double for Harbour View in their dramatic 2-2 with home team Tivoli Gardens.

Hue leads the pack ahead of a player tipped to be Jamaica's next best creative player in Lamar Nelson of Arnett Gardens with two goals along with Boys' Town's Rafeik Thomas, Levaughn Williams of Sporting Central Academy and last season's Golden Boot winner, Jermaine Anderson, all on two goals.

A total of 10 goals were scored, the least number for a round since the start of the league. The first week saw 13 goals being scored compared to 12 on week two.

After three weeks of football, no team has managed to score more than four goals in the three games, while Highgate United have the dubious distinction of being the only team yet to find the back of the net.

Three players saw red in Rasheede Clarke of Cavalier, Nicholas Scott of Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse's Jason Watson. A total of 15 other persons picked up yellow cards.

Top 5 Leading Goalscorers

Jermaine Hue Harbour View 3

Lamar Nelson Arnett Gardens 2

Rafeik Thomas Boys' Town 2

Levaughn Williams Sporting Central 2

Jermaine Anderson Waterhouse 2



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