Portmore United coach Linval Dixon said his team achieved its short-term objective after Adoah Nickle’s extra-time goal carried them to a 1-0 win over Sporting Central Academy to win the Digicel Premier League (DPL) second-end-of-round final at the Tony Spaulding Complex on Sunday.

Dixon said the team will now concentrate on the “bigger picture” of trying to regain their hold on the DPL title this season.

“We came to the end-of-round final and we won, now the bigger picture is to win the Premier League… we know we have a young team, but I believe that with the level of commitment, hard work and discipline that our team has shown, we can do it,” said Dixon after Sunday’s final.

He is also convinced that this win will help to boost his team’s confidence going into the crucial third round.

“One of the things that we talk about is that we are not getting enough goals from our strikers, and today (Sunday) we got one from one of our strikers, so that has been good for our morale and we hope to continue on that trend when the league resumes on Sunday,” he added.

In what was an evenly contested game, Sporting Central had the better of the chances in the first-half, while Portmore had the better opening during the second period.

Hughan Gray was the first to give Portmore a scare after just ten minutes, but his low cross failed to find a teammate after a superb dribble down the right.

Minutes later Gary McIntosh should have scored for Sporting after he stole possession from Richard Allen, but succeeded in putting his effort wide of the mark from just inside the box.

In the 26th minute, Gray came close after he broke away inside the area, but he blasted his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Despite not creating any clear cut chances, Portmore remained a constant threat throughout the half and their best effort at goal came in the final minute of the half, but Ricardo Cousin’s spectacular strike flew wide.

Five minutes after the break, Renior Elliot left the Portmore defence in his wake down the right and delivered a low cross for McIntosh, who arrived late and failed to really trouble Garice McPheson with his shot.

Afterwards Portmore had some good opportunities to go ahead with the first falling to Mario Swaby in the 63rd, but he fired high over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Steven Morrissey then received a similar chance in a more central area 10 minutes later, but his execution was similar to that of Swaby.

As both team grew tired, Portmore looked the stronger and they nearly grabbed a goal at the death. With only a minute of normal time remaining, Errol Steven found space inside the box and unleashed a goal-bound strike, but goalkeeper Andre Blake produced a brilliant diving save.

In the first period of extra-time, Blake had to be quick off his line to stop a run through from Bryan Bayliss, while Francois Swaby squandered two good opportunities for Sporting.

But in the second period of extra-time, Portmore grabbed the all-important goal when Nickle, who came on as a second-half substitute, latched on to a pass into the area and calmly placed the ball around the onrushing Blake to seal the win.

Sporting Central assistant coach, Nigel Stewart, said faulty shooting was his team’s downfall.

“We have nothing to feel ashamed about, we came and represented ourselves and played well… but we got a lot of chances and we didn’t hit the net,” he said.

TEAMS:

Portmore — Garice McPherson, Rafe Wolfe, Richard Allen, Bryan Bayliss, Rosario Harriott, Andrew Vanzie, Ricardo Cousins, Mario Swaby (Adoah Nickle 73rd), Tremaine Stewart (Errol Stevens 65th), Eric Vernan, Steven Morrissey.

Subs not used: A Adlam, A Christie, S Mundle, U Edwards, D Brown.

Booked: Wolfe (30th)

Sporting Central — Andre Blake, Akeem Anakie, Dale Watson, Marlon Allen (Damarley Samuels 116), Gregory Lewis, Kadian Wynter, Camaal Reid, Renior Elliot (Jamoly Powell 73rd), Gary McIntosh (Oneke Ford 82nd), Francois Swaby, Hughan Gray.

Subs not used: D Campbell, R Barnes, T Alves, T Huntley

Booked: Gray (11th), Anakie (57th), Ford (102nd)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Garnet Page & Lloyd Reader

Fourth Official: Raymond Bogle

Match Commissary: Horace Lewis