SOUTH Central Confederation top team Portmore United blanked Savannah SC 2-0 in the rescheduled fixture of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) All-Island Confederation Play-offs at Spanish Town Prison Oval on Wednesday.

The win pushed the Linval Dixon-coached team to four points from two games, joining Eastern Confederation winners York United, who also have four points from two games.

Western Confed winners Savannah and KSAFA champions University of the West Indies (UWI) remain at the bottom on point each.

Ironically, Portmore were leading 2-0 after 35 minutes, when heavy rain, which led to a waterlogged field, forced the abandonment of the match last week.

The former national champions again dominated the early exchanges in cool overcast conditions, and went in front thanks to a 13th minute strike by Suelae McCalla. McCalla went close minutes later, but his well-struck shot from 25-yards came back off the inside of the left upright.

Savannah settled gradually in attack, but their spirits got shattered shortly after when Roberto Johnson made a beautiful run down the right wing and skipped by a defender. Johnson then played a pass off to Rodan Jennings who struck a powerful shot past Neil Williams in goal for Savannah in the 39th minute, as Portmore went to the break 2-0 up.

The second stanza failed to produce a goal even with Portmore maintaining the ascendancy and applying consistent pressure. They created numerous chances and could have won the game by a wider margin had it not been for faulty shooting, as Savannah were completely outplayed.

Dixon expressed pleasure with his team’s performance.

“It was really a good performance from the team from start to finish, we could have added another two, but we give thanks,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

His counterpart Marvin Quarry lamented his team’s dismal display, after losing six of his regular starters to injury.

“Coming into this game we lost six players from the team, so we had to reshuffle and it was difficult for us today (yesterday). I think in the first half we handed the game to Portmore,” he stated.

The All-Island Confed Play-offs is contested on a home and away basis. The top two teams will be promoted to next season’s Premier League competition. The play-offs continue on Sunday with UWI welcoming Savannah and Portmore going up against York.

— Sherdon Cowan