CLARENDON PARK, Clarendon — Defending champions Harbour View were second best for most of the game, but still managed to carve out a 1-0 win over Sporting Central Academy in their Digicel Premier League midweek fixture at Brancourt yesterday.

In other games yesterday, Tivoli Gardens maintained their hunt for a place in the first End-of-Round Final with a 2-1 win over Reno at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

Newcomers Benfica defeated Boys’ Town 1-0 at Drax Hall, while Humble Lion maintained their unbeaten run with Lenworth Hyde at the helm with a 1-1 draw at Arnett Gardens.

Phenomenally, Reno ended with eight players and accumulated some seven yellow cards and three ejections in the dramatic encounter.

Christopher Harvey lashed home a deflected free-kick in time added, as the ‘Stars of the East’ rebounded from their shock 0-1 loss to newcomers Benfica FC on Sunday.

They have now improved to 16 points, three above Sporting Central, who were suffering their fifth defeat of the season, four of which have come at home.

Harbour View’s coach Donovan Hayles thought his team did well to keep out a “spirited” Sporting Central team and get the goal at the right time.

“I thought it was a very hard game,” he said. “Sporting Central is a quality team and they came at us, but we defended well and found the winner at the opportune time. These three points are very important to us and we will just have to keep working to keep pace with the leaders,” he said.

After a dull first half, both teams produced end-to-end action early in the second, but it was the hosts who looked likely to take the lead with a number of teasing attacks.

The guests were, however, able to withstand the onslaught and then find the winner with a bit of luck as the game withered away — Harvey driving home a grounded free-kick, which took a deflection and wrong footed Jacomeno Barrett between the sticks for Sporting.

Sporting Central — Jacomeno Barrett, Dale Watson, David Boswell, JeVaughn Watson, Hughan Gray (Francois Swaby 64th), Levaughn Williams, Camaal Reid, Renoir Elliot, Romaine Barnes, Marlon Allen, Oneke Ford (Damarly Samuels 86th).

Subs not used: A Blake, K Bascom, D Campbell, J Powell, T Alves.

Booked: D Watson (30th), J Watson (32nd)

Harbour View — Michard Barrett, Dicoy Williams, Monthrose Phinn, Christopher Harvey, Daveion Woodhouse, Richard Edwards, John-Ross Edwards (Jahmali Spence 73rd), Marcelino Blackburn, Romario Campbell (63rd), Andre Fagan, Rafique Thomas (Kavin Bryan 62nd).

Subs not used: D Haughton, N Beckett, Fabian Campbell, K Lawrence.

Booked: R Edwards (13th), Woodhouse (26th), Harvey (79th)

Referee: Courtney Campbell Assistants: Garnet Page, Stacy-Ann Greyson Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings Match Commissary: Ewan Scott