Pascoe strikes late to sink Highgate
MAY PEN, Clarendon — Humble Lion needed another late goal to beat Highgate United at Effortville yesterday and move six points clear of the Red Stripe Premier League relegation zone.
In midweek, it was Zico Herrera’s 81st-minute header that earned them a 1-0 win over basement team Savannah SC, but this time it was a ferocious long-range shot from the pencil-thin full-back Fabian Pascoe, deep into stoppage time, that gave them full points.
With just one minute left on the clock, the game seemed certain to end in a goalless draw as both teams laboured in a drab contest.
Before the goal, Humble Lion came closest to breaking the deadlock when Kimroy Davis’ angled first-half drive ricochet off the left upright and bounced gracefully into the hands of visiting goalkeeper Maurice Evans.
Highgate looked more comfortable on the ball — though they failed to penetrate the hosts’ defence — and their reaction after referee Kevin Thomas blew the final whistle clearly demonstrated their disappointment with the result.
The defeat, which ended a five-game unbeaten run, means they remain in the drop zone on 16 points — six behind Humble Lion (22) in 10th.
Coach Michael Smith said poor concentration cost them the game. However, he does not think the result will thwart their mini-revival since parting ways with previous coach Calvin Lewis.
“This won’t set us back,” he said. “We have a good thing going, so we just need to put this behind us and look forward to the next game.”
Conversely, the results means Geoffrey Maxwell maintained his 100 per cent start as Humble Lion coach. He will, however, be disappointed
that they again waited until the death to secure the points, especially after creating the better goalscoring opportunities.
His assistant, Linval ‘Pala’ Wilson, who again did post-match interviews, said the win is the most important thing at this stage.
“We really wanted the win and it never came at a sweeter time, so we give thanks for it,” Wilson said.
In another game, Boys’ Town clipped Tivoli Gardens 2-1 at the Edward Seaga Complex.
