MAY PEN, Clarendon — Geoffrey Maxwell began his reign as Humble Lion coach with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over fellow Red Stripe Premier League strugglers Savannah SC at Effortville yesterday.

Zeco Herrera’s 81st minute header ultimately proved the difference between the sides, but based on the balance of play, the hosts were by far the more superior of the two.

They were rampant in the opening 45 minutes, creating a number of chances but just failed to make their dominance count, with Denzil Watson — substituted after 29 minutes — being the main culprit.

However, Herrera’s late header from a Sean Coleman inswinging corner eventually saved Maxwell from a disappointing result in his first game in charge since replacing Lenny Hyde and Max Straw on Monday.

The victory, their first in nine games, moved the Clarendon side (19) three points clear of the relegation zone after the resurgent Highgate United, in 11th place, ended 0-0 with Tivoli Gardens (26) at Drax Hall.

While Maxwell will be disappointed with his team’s frailty in front of goal, he will no doubt be pleased that they managed to secure full points.

“We are happy for the three points (because) it was a tough game,” assistant coach Linval ‘Pala’ Wilson said. “We got some opportunities in the first half and didn’t put them away, so we made some adjustments and got the goal.”

Meanwhile, Savannah (11), who are winless in 14 games, slipped further down the table after the defeat.

They are now eight points adrift of the safe zone. However, coach Everton Tomlinson had reasons to be upbeat about the future.

“It is hard to keep losing, but there is improvement in terms of the scoreline,” he said. “Despite not playing well in the first half we did not give up any goals.”