FORMER four-time champions Portmore United defeated Waterhouse 1-0 at Ferdie Neita Park to secure only their third win in the third round of the Digicel Premier League yesterday.

Discarded national striker Roen Nelson netted the all-important goal in the 20th minute, which was only his third of the season.

The bustling player, who found himself unmarked at the backpost, tapped the ball past Waterhouse’s custodian Richard McCallum after Michael Binns play in a corner from the right flank.

Eight minutes earlier, Nelson saw his rasping effort from 12 yards rebound off the cross bar.

The victory moved Portmore United, who axed seven senior players prior the yesterday’s match, off the bottom of the 12-team standing.

The Waterhouse team, which started with six Under-21 players, wasted numerous opportunities to draw level. Andre Clennon was the main culprit, as he missed two clear chances in the second and 36th minutes.

Portmore United’s coach Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell was delighted for his third win from 10 matches in charge, and the team’s eighth from 30 league matches.

“I thought it was a good game overall and you’re right they (Watrehouse) had some good chances,” Bell told the Observer.

“This is the second match that I’ve seen the team work hard and we never played badly,” he added.

Waterhouse’s coach Geoffrey Maxwell was not overly disappointed about the result as his young team created scoring opportunities.

“The way forward where the club is going now, is playing young players at this point of the season. But at the same time, I don’t think the score reflects the complexion of the game, because I thought quite frankly that we had better opportunities to put the game away from the first half,” Maxwell said.

In another premiership encounter, August Town defeated Sporting Central 1-0 at the UWI Bowl.