“THE will is better than the skill and the will today (Sunday) to win is very important for us,” said Harbour View head coach Donovan Hayles after his team eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Portmore United despite being outplayed.

Harbour View’s resurgence continued with their third win in their last five games, and although they are still in fifth place on 24 points, more importantly, they are just six points adrift of the leader Tivoli Gardens on 30.

“That is our aim. We just want to axe away at the leaders and see if we can bring it down to a manageable position and put our destiny in our own hands. It is a long way to go and we are making steady progress,” noted Hayles.

Rafeik Thomas scored in the 40th minute against the run of play after the visiting Portmore United seemingly took control.

Thomas collected a long clearance from his centre half Robert Williams, and with unbelievable oceans of space, fired home a left-footer past goalkeeper Gariece McPherson for what proved to be the winner.

With the exception of Christopher Harvey and stand-in captain Marcelino Blackburn, the Harbour View team looked like an Under-21 aggregation with the inclusion of young 18-year- old leftback Kemar A Lawrence, Lamar Nelson, Fabian Campbell and Robert Williams.

Portmore United, fielding a team not much older, but more experienced, had territorial possession and should have left with at least a point.

Mario Swaby, Rafe Wolfe, Ricardo Cousins, Steven Morrissey and Andre Campbell pressed for the equaliser and in the dying minutes, only a miraculous save from goalkeeper Michaud Barrett denied Portmore a share of the points.

Substitute Roen Nelson worked his way into the box but his weak shot somehow found its way to Morrissey who turned and fired what looked to be a certain goal from point blank range only to see Barrett, showing tremendous reflection, parrying over for a corner.

Portmore United coach Linval Dixon said he was frustrated after starting out so well. “We started out so well, dominated the half and allowed Harbour View to get back into the game and it cost us dearly,” he said.