Battered and bruised, but not out.

That’s the statement of Boys’ Town Football Club, who have now clawed their way out of the relegation zone in the 2014-15 Red Stripe Premier League season.

The ‘Red Brigade’ ended the year on a positive note as they have now established a two-match unbeaten run, following a bruising 1-0 win over fourth-placed Harbour View FC at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Rafiek Thomas’ 69th minute strike from the penalty spot was enough to secure three vital points, which have now placed Boys’ Town on 16 points and 10th place in the 12-team standing.

Coach Andrew Price, in assessing his team’s performance, said they will be seeking to continue the momentum for the new year.

“I think we gave an honest effort today (yesterday). I think we went out there and we played well, we really hustled. We challenged for every ball and I believe that our aggression resulted in us getting three points. We really battled with a very good Harbour View team and once you can match up with a team like Harbour View, then you know you have played a good game.

“This team is capable of good football, we have been playing for awhile without much luck and I believe our luck is slowly changing. We are getting the required results, so we just want to continue to work hard into 2015 and see where it takes us,” he said.

He added: “We need to go on a winning streak; we need to put back-to-back games together and see if we can put three or four games together. The team is positive now [and] we just need to continue working hard.

“The back-end of the season is always the better part of the season for Boys’ Town, and as the season gets longer we will get better. We are still a work in progress. We have some young players whom we are blending in with our experienced players, so we are going to gel and continue to work hard.”

The encounter was by no means spectacular, but more physical. The aggression of the Harbour View team forced their opponents into an early substitution, after Andre Dawson picked up a nasty gash under his left eye from the elbow of Rosario Harriott. Despite this, the hosts dominated and created numerous chances which they failed to capitalise on in the first half.

The attacking prowess of the Boys’ Town team would reap rewards 24 minutes after the resumption when the menacing Thomas was brought down inside the 18-yard area by Harbour View’s goalkeeper Levor Williams, who was shown a yellow card for the challenge. The diminutive striker then easily converted from the spot to continue his eye-catching goalscoring trend.

The ‘Stars of the East’ were never really settled until late in the encounter when they replied with a string of attacks, but to no avail. Harbour View will enter the new year in fourth position on 26 points.

Coach Andrew Hinds believed that his team gave a “lacklustre performance”.

“I didn’t think we showed up for this game. The performance was way below our standard. We got opportunities and couldn’t finish, Boys’ Town did what they had to do…they got their chance and they finished and that was it,” he lamented.

Teams: Boys’ Town FC — Leon Goffe, Hugh Evans, Victor Thompson, Pierre McPherson, Xavian Virgo, Garfield Gillespie, Daemion Benjamin, Andre Dawson (Michael Campbell 23rd), Peter Keys (Chavaney Willis 90th), Rafiek Thomas, Tkevin Garnett (Anthony Dawes 87th)

Subs not used: William Richards

Booked: Thompson (76th), Goffe (90th+4)

Harbour View — Levor Williams, Rosario Harriott, Christopher Harvey, Dejanni Isaacs, Kemar Lawrence, Daminan Anderson, Nicholas Beckett, Joel Senior, John-Ross Edwards, Jermie Lynch, Damarley Oliver (Kevaughn Frater 58th)

Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Anthony Marks, Shaun Dewar, Kimani Birmingham, Savian Maxwell, Damion McNeish

Booked: Williams (68th),

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistant Referees: Stephanie-Dale Yee-Singh, Terrence McKenzie

Fourth Official: Odette Hamilton

Match Commissary: Martin Lyn