An 89th-minute strike by substitute Anthony Greenland gave t he University of the West Indies (UWI) FC a 1-0 win over Cavalier Soccer Club in their Red Stripe Premier League game at the UWI Bowl yesterday.

Greenland, who replaced Dwayne Smith in minute 67, fired home from close range after what appeared to be a wasteful corner kick was headed back into his path. He made no mistake.

It was UWI’s second win of the season from three games and they jumped into second spot on seven points, while previous leaders Cavalier slipped two places to third, with six points.

Playing on a wet surface, both UWI and Cavalier got early chances in a game that could have gone either way.

Former National Under-17 player Nicholas Nelson, who replaced Cavalier’s Tevin Scott in the 69th minute, hit the base of the upright two minutes later after he latched onto a through ball.

Nelson, who is the younger brother of Jermy Nelson, formerly of Rivoli United and now a Cavalier teammate, kicked inches wide in the 79th minute as Cavalier hunted the winner.

Last weekend Cavalier scored two stoppage time goals in a 2-1 win that broke Arnett Gardens’ heart but this time, they were on the receiving end of a late winner by UWI.

Cavalier started the game without their captain Chevonne Marsh, who turned up late but was introduced in the 63rd minute to pump energy into their attack which was led by Claudius Blackburn and Alex Marshall.

In fact, UWI should have been playing with 10 men from the first half as Taniel “Truck” McKenzie, who picked up a yellow card in the 31st minute, just minutes later swept the feet from under Blackburn but inexplicably referee Kevin Morrison saw no foul.

Winning coach Andrew Peart thought it was a balanced game though his team deserved victory and maximum three points.

“Both teams got opportunities to score; although we had more control in the second half, Cavalier did well in the first half, but I thought we had the upper hand and we managed to put away one of the chances we got,” said Peart, who also coaches Jamaica College in Manning Cup football.

Cavalier’s coach Rudolph Speid thought his team had the better of the game and should have won.

“Just before they scored we had a lot of opportunities we just never capitalised on any. Corners are always difficult to deal with and we didn’t mark well. It was actually a very poor corner that went way across, but somebody headed it back in and the player was there unmarked,” noted Speid.

Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens jumped to the top of the league on nine points with a 1-0 win over Dunbeholden at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex. Colorado Murray was on hand to score in the 19th minute. He also scored last week against Reno. Dunbeholden remain pointless after three games.

At the Spanish Town Prison Oval, champions Portmore United and Humble Lion battled to a 0-0 stalemate. Portmore are up to four points, while Humble Lion picked up their first point of the season.

Teams: UWI — George Brown, Deno Schaffe, Taniel McKenzie, Javoy Belnavis, Deighton Stuart, Michael Heaven (Stephen Barnett 61st), Rochane Smith, Ryan Miller, Patrick Brown (Tejuarn Williams 81st), Dawyne Smith (Anthony Greenland 67th), Davion Garrison.

Subs not used: Amal Knight, Dravian Williams, Kemoy Atkinson, Kemar Flemmings.

Booked: McKenzie (31st), Heaven (41st).

Cavalier SC — St Michael Edwards, Raheem Depass, Jamar Purcell, Jamoi Topey, Sheldon McKoy, Leonard Rankine (Gadail Irving 51st), Jermy Nelson, Tevin Scott (Nicholas Nelson 69th), Ajuma Johnson (Chevonne Marsh 63rd), Claudious Blackburn, Alex Marshall.

Subs not used: Kyle Ming, Orlando Brown, Mark Bryan.

Booked: Topey (6th).

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant referees: Richard Washington, Kemar Gayle

Fourth official: Cardella Samuels

Match commissary: Donald Carter