Leaders Portmore United shrugged off a one-man disadvantage to crush visitors Humble Lion FC 3-0 in yesterday’s Red Stripe Premier League encounter at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Jermie Lynch opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Ricardo Morris struck a brace in minutes 32 and 76.

Portmore’s Venton Evans was red-carded for a professional foul in the 34th minute.

Portmore move to 13 points from five games to stay top, while struggling Humble Lion remain down the 12-team pack with four points.

“I’m very happy for the three points and we did it with one man short. That is credit to the team and the hard work they put in every day, but I’m not surprised we got the three goals,” Portmore Head Coach Shavar Thomas told the Jamaica Observer in a post-match interview.

His opposite number Lenworth Hyde said going behind early was a major setback for Humble Lion.

“When we went behind, we put on attackers trying to get back but it didn’t work today. And when you are trying to get back you leave spaces and they hit us with some counters. I think they are fit and a strong team, but we weathered the storm in the first 20 minutes,” said Hyde.

Portmore dominated the early exchanges and took the lead after a patient build-up in midfield.

The passing resulted in Henrico Ricketts being set free down the right and he whipped a cross for Lynch to time his run to perfection and deftly direct the ball beyond goalkeeper Devon Haughton.

Lynch should have made it 2-0 when teammate Rondee Smith opened the Lion defence with a basic forward pass, but the attacker hit his effort straight toward Haughton.

The pint-sized Romoy Parkins could have equalised for Humble Lion when the ball broke free for him in front of the goal, but Portmore’s Shaven Sean-Paul smothered the toe poke.

Portmore went further ahead when Lynch powered his way into the Humble Lion box and slid an effort goalward for Morris to thump into the net from the goalline.

Humble Lion were given a way back in when Evans was sent off for the challenge on Ricardo Dennis inside the penalty box.

However, Sean-Paul was again the hero when he saved the penalty of Wolry Wolfe low to his left.

Though down to 10 players, Portmore mostly stayed in control during the second half.

But Humble Lion substitute Rohan Richards rattled Sean-Paul’s goal frame with a cracking shot after dribbling through the Portmore defence in the second half.

It was a rare moment of incisiveness from the Humble Lion team despite the one-man advantage.

And Portmore made it 3-0 only minutes later when Morris was given space and time to expertly place a 20-yard left-footer beyond Haughton.

Teams:

Portmore — Shaven Sean-Paul, Domano Solomon, Andre Dyce, Roberto Johnson, Venton Evans, Ewan Grandison, Chevany Willis, Henrico Ricketts, Jermie Lynch (Javon East 46th), Ricardo Morris (Suelae McCalla 86th), Rondee Smith (Maalique Foster 56th).

Subs not used: Kemar Foster, Richard Coates, Osani Ricketts, Saneekie Burton

Booked: V Evans (ejected-34th), D Solomon (85th)

Humble Lion — Devon Haughton, Ajuran Brown, Shaquille Dyer, Andrew Vanzie, Romoy Parkins (Romario Campbell 69th), Fabian Pascoe (Kevaughn Isaacs 56th), Hugh Howell (Rohan Richards 50th), Gregory Lewis, Hughan Gray, Wolry Wolfe

Subs not used: Jovell Plunkett, Jovell Plunkett, Linval Lewis, Matthew Taylor

Booked: H Howell (49th), R Richards (77th)

Referee: Daneon Parchment

Assistant Referees: Nicholas Anderson, Rolonzo Bennett.

Fourth Official: Neressa Goldson

Match Commissary: Charles Barrett

— Sanjay Myers