University of the West Indies (UWI) FC turned up in a big way to remain on course to take a top six play-off spot as they slammed leaders Portmore United 3-0 in a lopsided Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) affair at Mona Bowl yesterday.

Goals from Andrae Bernal (eighth), Anthony Greenland (67th) and Akeem Thenstead (73rd) steered the university team to victory.

With the win, UWI leapt into seventh position on 39 points, same as Harbour View FC and Reno FC who were 2-1 and 2-0 winners over second-placed Arnett Gardens (47 points) and cellar dwellers Boys’ Town (17 points), respectively.

By virtue of a superior goal difference, Harbour View maintained their hold on sixth position, while UWI share a similar goal difference of zero with eighth-placed Reno.

Portmore United remain atop the 12-team standings on 59 points.

Meanwhile, ninth-placed Humble Lion ensured they stay close to the chasing pack with a 4-1 thumping of fourth-placed Cavalier FC (43 points) at Effortville Community Centre.

The rivalry between UWI and Portmore United usually promises excitement and the contest lived up to its billing, albeit to the detriment of the latter’s unbeaten streak, as they failed to show in their usual competitive manner.

Bernal ensured fans had very little time to wait before being treated when his strike sent UWI to the break 1-0 up.

The hosts maintained the momentum on the resumption, but Portmore United gradually showed up and should have found the equaliser on the hour mark, but Roshane Sharpe, who had a clear look at goal, muffed his right-footed effort.

They were then made to pay for the mishap seven minutes later when Greenland arrived at goal mouth to turn in Patrick Brown’s cross.

Thenstead then capped off the victory six minutes later when he poked home ahead of the advancing Kemar Foster in goal for Portmore United after being sent through by Ryan Miller.

Andrew Peart, assistant coach of UWI, praised his team’s performance.

“It is a good result and a very good performance as well, we tried to bring both attributes at the end of each game and today (yesterday) was one of those games that we played well and came out on top. The early goal gave us a good platform to build on and I must commend the team for their mentality to keep the composure and go for more goals even after being two-nil up,” he told journalists in a post-game interview.

Portmore United Head Coach Shavar Thomas felt his team failed to show in all departments.

“UWI were better than us today, they showed that they wanted it more hence the result, we were poor in defence we made one pass too late or a run too late and they got in behind us and finished. So this is not really a setback, we just have to refocus and come again,” Thomas noted.

Teams: UWI FC – Nicholas King, Taniel McKenzie, Deno Schaffe, Fabion McCarthy, Jamie Robinson, Oshane Jenkins(Kemar Flemmings 15th), Akeem Thenstead (Zhelano Barnes 77th), Andrae Bernal (Abayomi D’Aguilar 86th) Patrick Brown, Ryan Miller, Anthony Greenland

Subs not used: Jabari Wallace, Davion Garrison, Dawyne Smith, Jerondy Henry

Booked: None

Portmore United – Kemar Foster, Henrico Ricketts, Roberto Johnson, Shaquille Dyer, Kemar Phillpotts (Kemo Gayle 46th), Chevany Willis(Cornelius Henry 75th), Ricardo Morris, Maalique Foster, Roshane Sharpe(Jermie Lynch 61st), Jovan East, Rosario Harriott

Subs not used: Osani Ricketts, Demario Phillips, Saneekie Burton, Eric Edwards

Booked: Dyer (37th)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant referees: Richard Washington, Jermaine Yee Sing

Fourth official: Okeito Nicholson

Match Commissary: James Pearson

Yesterday’s results

UWI FC 3, Portmore United 0

Boys’ Town 1, Harbour View 2

Reno FC 2, Arnett Gardens 0

Tivoli Gardens 0, Montego Bay United 1

Humble Lion 4, Cavalier FC 1