Portmore United FC hammered 10-man Boys’ Town 4-1 in a rescheduled Red Stripe Premier League match at the Barbican playing field on Wednesday.

The punishment handed down to the hapless Boys’ Town could be seen as an act of redress for recent back-to-back defeats Portmore United suffered.

Both teams were even for the first 30 minutes and contended strongly for the breakthrough. However, Boys’ Town began to drag their feet, especially at the back, and Portmore United pounced.

Left to find room in the box, Javan East climbed above slow-moving Boys’ Town defenders to beat goalkeeper Mikhail Harrison with a stiff header from a Ewan Grandison free kick. Skipper Wayne Ellis contributed to the second goal by Jermie Lynch, who found room to round the Boys’ Town defence to score his first.

Rafiek Thomas, who was neglected for most of the first half on the left side, found a deficit-reducing goal in minute 68. Thomas was eventually substituted in a double change — he for Raheem Porter and Phillip Peddie for Javani Campbell.

This did not stop the haemorrhage as nine minutes later Lynch scored his second from the penalty spot, due to an infringement in the area. And if that was not enough punishment, two minutes after the penalty Boys’ Town went down to 10 players following a straight red card shown to Dean Edwards by referee Oshane Nation.

Earlier he had been counselling players about their tackles. To add insult to injury, Henrico Ricketts completely upended Harrison a minute to full-time with a low, long-ranged shot to register Portmore’s fourth and complete the deluge.

The victory moved Portmore United up to second place in the 12-team standing on 16 points, two behind leaders and defending champions Arnett Gardens. The University of the West Indies FC are next on 14 points, followed by Harbour View on 13. Tivoli Gardens and FC Reno are next on 12 points, followed by Cavalier SC on 11, Humble Lion and Montego Bay United on eight, Waterhouse FC on seven, Boys’ Town on six, and the winless Sandals South Coast firmly rooted at the bottom on three points.

Teams: Boys’ Town FC – Mikhail Harrison, Dean Edwards, Wayne Ellis, Kurt Thomas (Ricardo Denni 38th), Xavian Virgo, Garfield Gillespie, Patrick Scott Phillip Peddie (Javani Campbell 68th), Javaniel Hardware, Michael Campbell, Rafiek Thomas (Raheem Porter 68th).

Subs not used: Shavon Wilson, Pierre McPherson, Giovannie Palmer, Andrew Pedlar

Booked: Ellis (33rd, Kurt Thomas (35th), Edwards (red-carded 75th)

Portmore United – Shaven Sean-Paul, Andre Dyce, Osani Ricketts, Kemo Gayle, Kemar Phillpotts (Oshane Smith 74th), Ewan Grandison, Chevany Willis, Henrico Ricketts, Jermie Lynch, Javan East (Saneekie Burton 89th), Rondee Smith.

Subs not used: Kemar Foster, Richard Coates, Chevon Malcolm, Jeovanne Shorter, Shawayne Nelson

Booked: Phillpotts (45th+1), East (71st), Ricketts (89th)

Referee: Oshane Nation

Assistant Referees: Oyinco McTaggart, Jermaine Yee Sing

Fourth Official: Okeito Nicholson

Match Commissioner: Andrew Payne

– Hurbun Williams