With the single master stroke of the game, Cavalier SC, through striker Cleon Pryce scored the lone goal that frustrated Harbour View FC’s upward mobility in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) with a 1-0 defeat in Monday night’s game at the Harbour View mini-stadium.

The goal came just after the resumption of the second half in the 51st minute of play when Harbour View were caught out on the counter. This was after they had their visitors in a desperate tangle to keep the ball from entering their net.

While under pressure to keep Harbour View from scoring, a Cavalier defender booted an errant ball that was running loose in the area out of harm’s way and was controlled by Pryce at the other end before volleying home prior to goalkeeper Mark Bryan reacting.

On the surface, it did not appear that Harbour View did much wrong other than not scoring. However, Head Coach Ludlow Bernard thought otherwise. “Yes, we did much wrong. We allowed the Cavalier team to settle on our home turf and that is very disappointing by our standard of play.”

He added: “I really cannot understand why there was such a performance. Whatever happened on the field might have started with the warm-up session. Clearly this means that there are certain things we will have to address. This surely is not the level of performance a coach expects from a team that is chasing a top-four finish.”

The unexpected defeat, especially at home, has curtailed the prospect of Harbour View climbing into the top-four position after starting the game with 33 points and in the fifth position. They have now slipped one place down to sixth with UWI leapfrogging them by point into the fifth position on 34 points. Cavalier, meanwhile, climbed into the seventh position in the standing on goal difference with 30 points. Boys’ Town and Reno are also on 30 points.

A pleased Cavalier Head Coach Rudolph Spied acknowledged that: “It was a good victory for us. But it did not come without forward planning. We have prepared our team over the last two weeks to bring the fight to Harbour View and the return of our captain Al Nesbeth was very instrumental in tonight’s victory. He is one of the best centre halves in the RSPL and with his presence in the team, we were resolute not to concede no matter what and therefore, we fought for the first ball, likewise the second ball throughout our play.

“Another factor contributing to our victory,” Spied pointed out, “was that we reserved some of our more creative players for the second half as Ryan Miller, Chevon Marsh and Jeffrey Henry were brought on as a safeguard. Marsh, as you will recall, got a glorious chance to put us two goals up but anxiety seemed to get the better of him.

“When we were here the last time I thought we played with too much arrogance. This time, however, we were circumspect and exploited their weaknesses,” Spied explained.

Teams:

Harbour View FC – Mark Bryan, Fabian Grant, Dejanni Isaacs (Kavin Bryan 63rd), Evan Taylor, Montrose Phinn, Mark Miller, Jorginho James (Tevin Scott 88th), Nicholas Beckett (78th), John-Ross Edwards, Damarley Oliver, Brian Brown

Rivoli 0, Portmore 1 Boys’ Town 0, Montego Bay 4 Humble Lion 0, UWI 0 Arnett Gardens 6, Reno 0 Waterhouse 0, Tivoli Gardens 1

Subs not used: Akeem Smith, Jaleel Chamberlin, Bryan English, Claudious Blackburn

Booked: James (69th)

Cavalier SC – Carlloyd Walters, Shawn Lawes, Cleon Pryce, Norman Bailey (Chevon Marsh 72nd), Charles Atal (Jeffery Henry 72nd) Dwayne Smith, Jason Watson, Oshane Jenkins, Suela McCalla (Ryan Miller 85th), Shaquille Dyer, Al Nesbeth

Subs not used: Aldaine Grant, Jahwani Hinds, Deron Duncan

Booked: Dyer (57th)

Referee: Veralton Nembhard

Assistant Referees: Garnet Page, O’Jay Duhaney

Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell

Match Commissioner: Anthony Cooke

Sunday’s results

(home team named first)

Rivoli 0, Portmore 1

Boys’ Town 0, Montego Bay 4

Humble Lion 0, UWI 0

Arnett Gardens 6, Reno 0

Waterhouse 0, Tivoli Gardens 1