Former champions Portmore United extended their unbeaten run to provisionally move to the top of the points standing following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the resurgent Waterhouse FC in a heated mid-week Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) contest at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The league’s in-form scorer Javon East increased his tally to eight goals and interim captain Ricardo Morris inched up to seven goals, when they netted for Portmore United in the 68th and 84th minutes, respectively. Waterhouse’s in-form striker Kemar Beckford had earlier sent the Drewsland team in front with an 11th minute strike.

With the win, Portmore United moved up to 31 points, one ahead of defending champions and long-time leaders Arnett Gardens, who will be in action against Montego Bay United at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 6:00 pm today.

FC Reno will host Sandals South Coast in the Westmoreland derby at Frome in the day’s other game at 3:00 pm.

Waterhouse, who have made significant strides over the past few games, were tasting a rare defeat since being under the guidance of Donovan Duckie but they remain in eighth position on 16 points.

When the two teams last met, Portmore United asserted their dominance over Waterhouse with a 5-1 beating and although it was a much closer affair this time around, the Shavar Thomas-coached outfit still has bragging rights.

It was indeed an intense encounter up until the latter stages when the game was brought into disrepute after Waterhouse’s captain Dasha Satchwell was shown a red card by referee Odette Hamilton in time added for insulting and abusive language.

Satchwell, who was earlier cautioned in the 78th minute, seemingly lost interest in the game as he gave second assistant referee Jermaine Yee Sing a proper tongue-lashing on the sidelines.

Prior to that, Hamilton had issued four cautions to Portmore United, with Waterhouse picking up four late in the contest.

Earlier, Waterhouse grabbed the ascendancy when Beckford slotted home after a defensive mix up, to take a 1-0 lead at the break.

The momentum shifted on the resumption as Portmore United went to work in their probe for the equaliser. They were duly rewarded eight minutes past the hour mark when East, who was left unmarked, calmly fired past the hapless Diego Haughton, in goal for Waterhouse, from close range.

That gave an impetus to the five-time champions’ charge as they scented victory and the busy Maalique Foster made it possible when he skipped a defender before being brought down inside the area.

The left-footed Morris accepted responsibility and comfortably placed the 12-yard kick in the left hand corner of the net with Haughton diving to his right.