BOYS’ Town suffered their first home defeat in the Digicel Premier League, beaten 1-0 by leaders Harbour View at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Romario Campbell scored the lone goal on 50 minutes for Harbour View after collecting John-Ross Edwards’ perfectly-weighted pass.

The goal injected some much-needed life as Boys’ Town pressed for the leveller in a bid to preserve their unblemished home record. But the hosts had only themselves to blame as numerous goalscoring chances went a begging, while the ‘Stars of the East’ had goalkeeper Dwayne Miller to thank as they accomplished what no other team has done this season.

The last time both sides met at Collie Smith Drive they produced a thrilling four-goal draw. But history wasn’t about to repeat itself as they enter the third round as two teams with the meanest defences.

Harbour View came closest to scoring in an otherwise dour first half, with Richard Edwards and Jermaine Hue smacking the crossbar.

As the half drew to a close, Andre Fagan’s headed pass sent Hue through on goal, but the midfielder failed to fend off a challenge and shot tamely at Boys’ Town’s goalie Kirk Porter.

The hosts started brighter on the restart, but fell behind after a quick counter-attack by Harbour View saw Hue picking out Edwards, who immediately released Campbell.

The striker did well to shrug off the challenge of Fabian Watkins before slipping the ball between the leg of an advancing Porter.

This brought the Red Brigade from their slumber, but Miller was impregnable between the sticks.

The national custodian turned away for a corner George Vernal’s dipping strike which was heading for the far corner. Later on, Vernal was given a glorious opportunity to bring his team level, but the Boys’ Town hit-man hesitated with a clear view at goal and muffed his shot.

Boys’ Town coach Andrew Price opted for fresh legs, giving schoolboy standout Marvin Morgan his DPL debut and Shane Edwards.

But the visitors were prepared to soak up the pressure and play on the counter. And they almost doubled their lead when captain Lovell Palmer popped up inside the area, but the defender dragged his angled shot wide of the mark.

In a last gasp-effort, Boys’ Town, who dominated possession in the second half, threw everything they had in attack, but substitute Jahmiel hardware’s goal-bound free-kick was brilliantly tipped over by a flying Miller.

The defeat will at east for now not negatively affect Boys’ Town’s fourth-place standings in the league after nearest rivals St George’s were beaten 1-0 at home by Village United.

Boys’ Town — Kirk Porter, Xavian Virgo, Asrick Samuels, Wayne Ellis, Fabian Watkins, Daemon Benjamin, Michael Campbell (Jahmiel Hardware 75th), George Vernal, Renae Lloyd, Peter Keyes (Shane Edwards 63rd), Andre Wheeler (Marvin Morgan 63rd)

Subs not used: C Wright, A Bennett, P Crumbie, R Johnson

Booked: Samuels 26th

Harbour View — Dwayne Miller, Lovell Palmer. Montrose Phinn, Dicoy Williams, Kimarle Brissett, Richard Edwards, John-Ross Edwards (Fabian Campbell 68th), Romario Campbell (Christopher Harvey 85th), Jermaine Hue, Andre Fagan (Kamar Petrekin 63rd), Kavin Bryan

Subs not used: M Barrett, C Waugh, O Smith, J Gordon

Booked: Edwards 22nd, Campbell 85th

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistants: Antonette Williams, Kedlee Powell

Fourth Official: Orville Banton

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke