TEN-man Boys’ Town recovered from a mid-week defeat to beat visitors Sporting Central Academy in a Digicel Premier League encounter at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Xavian Virgo scored the late winner in the 82nd minute for the Red Brigade who were fielding a weakened team as most of their regular players were on the bench.

Technical director at Boys’ Town, Andrew Price, told the Observer that several players were hurt, accounting for his severely depleted team.

Neither team made any waves in a slow-paced, uneventful first half. Boys’ Town’s Richard Clarke came close to scoring minutes after the resumption heading in a ball that was knocked away by Sporting Central Academy goalkeeper Andre Blake.

The snail-paced brand of play continued for the first 20 minutes of the second half as a light drizzle started despite bright sunshine at Collie Smith Drive.

Sporting goalkeeper Blake was knocked down twice, having to receive medical attention on both occasions causing lengthy delays.

Blake proved his value after saving the visitors from going 0-1 down after a brilliant save from a free kick taken by Renae Lloyd that went flying over the heads of his opponents’ wall and came close to the top of the goal post and he had to expertly knock it away to safety.

However, both teams still seemed unable to capitalise on the opportunities they were creating.

Sporting Central’s Renoir Elliot came closest in the 72nd minute, but his his effort could not find the target.

The pace got heated as the minutes ticked away and both teams hurriedly sought the clincer. It was then that Virgo took advantage of the opening to boot the left-sided cross into the net to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.

The former champions went down to 10 men after their goalkeeper Kirk Porter was ejected in time added after getting into what appeared to be a verbal duel with referee Kevin Thomas.

Sporting Central coach, Donovan Duckie, still sporting a neck brace following a car accident two weeks ago, lamented the fact that his team could not find the target despite numerous chances.

“This has been happening for the past two consecutive games and we’re to be blamed… our poor form is the cause,” he told the Observer.

“We outplay the teams in the Premier League so easily, but yet at the end of the day we are losing the games… our work is cut out but it’s a long season so it’s nothing to panic about.”

Price was livid at Porter’s behaviour which caused him to be ejected: “It was inexcusable and we’ll have to deal with that.”

Nevertheless, he was happy with the win and the performance of the “replacement players”.

“We didn’t have our strongest team… but it was an opportunity for the fringe players to come out here and show us some of the work that I expect from them and they really came out an played a good second half,” he said.

In another early game, rookies Benfica continued their winning ways by getting the better of Reno 3-2 at Drax Hall.