FORMER two-time champions Harbour View (2000, 2007) climbed back to the summit of the Digicel Premier League standings with victory over struggling Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park

on Sunday.

Portmore were losing for the 10th time from 17 matches.

The 1-0 victory for the ‘Stars of the East’ combined with the 1-1 drawn result between title-holders Tivoli Gardens and Boy’s Town, was enough for the Donovan Hayles-coached team to move back to the top.

Harbour View now lead the 12-team standings with 33 points following their third win from six second-round matches and ninth overall from 17 outings this season.

First end-of-round champions Tivoli lead the trailing pack with 32 points followed by St George’s SC on 31, Boy’s Town and Waterhouse with 27 each and Portmore on 21, rounding out the top six.

Defender Dicoy Williams notched the all-important goal for Harbour View in the 30th minute, rising high at the back post to head home Jermaine Hue’s high cross from the left flank.

The former two-time CFU Club Champions should have taken the lead in the 26th minute through Ranique Muir, who was played behind Portmore’s defence line by Hue, but the young striker failed to beat Portmore’s custodian Dwayne Kerr from 12 yards.

Muir, who was unmarked in the 52nd minute, again missed an easy opportunity, kicking his tame effort into the arms of Kerr.

Former four-time league champions Portmore, who have the worst offensive record with only 10 goals, continued to find the going tough as their midfield created little chances.

In fact, Portmore’s two best attempts on goal came from individual efforts.

Steven Morrissey pounced on a defensive error in the 40th minute, but fired wide from 16 yards, a minute before Ricardo Cousins’ swerving snap shot from 40 yards rebounded off the crossbar.

Harbour View coach Hayles described his victory as a good workman-like performance.

“We knew that we had to win this game to get back to the top of the league and we had a lean spell coming into this game, but for some reason we are looking comfortable away from home. I think we managed this game for 90 minutes,” Hayles said, noting that his charges need to start winning at home as well.

The ‘Stars of the East’ have lost two, drawn four and won two of their eight home games this season.

Portmore coach Linval Dixon conceded that his team continues to waste chances.

“One of the things that keep bugging us or keep on killing us for the entire season is not scoring and you saw the chances that we got and we should have put them away at this level,” Dixon mourned.

TEAMS:

Portmore United — Dwayne Kerr, Adrian Mitchell, Andre Darby, Andrae Campbell, Temaine Stewart, Michael Binns (Shauntel Mindle 60th), Ricardo Cousins, Kemar Bennett (Bryan Bayliss 60th), Wolry Wolfe, Steven Morrissey, Gary McIntosh (Roen Nelson 60th).

Subs not used: Garice McPherson, Carlington Smith, Cornelius Henry, Sheldon Battiste.

Booked: S Mundle (65th).

Harbour View — Dwayne Miller, Lovel Palmer, Montrose Phinn, Dicoy Williams, Kimarlee Brissett, Richard Edwards, Marcelino Blackburn, John Ross Edwards (Christopher Harvey 90th), Jermaine Hue, Andre Fagan (Kemar Petrekin 85th), Ranique Muir (Nicholas Beckett 78th).

Subs not used: Carlloyd Walters, Andre Steele, Rafeik Thomas, Denzil Watson

Booked: None

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistants: Mark Sullivan and Shane Harrison

Fourth Official: Carvel Banton

Match Commissary: Garfield McDonald