FOUR-time winners Harbour View remain on target for a fifth lien on the Flow Champions Cup after beating Rivoli United 2-1 in round two action of the all-island knockout competition at Prison Oval on Thursday. The match was played in uncharacteristically cold temperatures.

However, the ‘Stars of the East’, who currently lead the National Premier League points standing needed extra-time to stop their fellow premiership campaigners to progress to the quarter-finals.

The Bradley Stewart-coached Rivoli United took the lead in the 10th minute on a disputed goal by Kirk Ramsay.

The speedy Ramsay ran on to a through pass from Devon Hodges and converted his shot from close range, even as the Harbour View defenders protested that he was caught in their off-side trap.

But their protests fell on deaf ears as referee Lewin Purser pointed to the centre circle for the restart.

The premier league’s top marksman Hodges uncharacteristically wasted a clear-cut chance to double Rivoli’s lead in the 54th minute, booting his right-footed effort over the crossbar after dispossessing the ageing Clifton Waugh inside the box.

Omar Barker also came close to scoring for the home team in the 60th minute, but was denied by Harbour View’s custodian Michaud Barrett, who dived to his right to parry the 25-yard rocket for a corner.

The visitors, who are seeking to add to the Champions Cup successes of 1994, ’98, 2001 and ’02, found the equaliser with 23 minutes remaining in regulation time through Oneil Smith.

The defensive midfielder poked home from close range after goalkeeper Leon Goffe and his defenders failed to clear a swerving shot by Marcelino Blackburn.

Mark Newsome wasted two easy chances to win the match for Rivoli in regulation time. The attacking midfielder side-footed wide from eight yards in the 70th, before booting high from 12 yards two minutes later.

Blackburn netted the winner for Harbour View in the 113th minute by slamming home a rebound after Romario Campbell’s shot was parried by Goffe. Second half substitute Kavin Bryan had delivered the initial cross to Campbell from the right flank, after rounding two defenders.

The Donovan Hayles-coached Harbour View now join Waterhouse, Humble Lions, Village United, St Georges SC, Arnett Gardens, Granville and defending champions Boys’ Town in the quarter-finals.

“As I saym we want to definitely win this Cup because we pride the Flow Champions Cup as much as we pride the Premier League, because to me it is the best knockout and League trophy to win, so we’re pushing to win both,” Hayles told the Observer.