SHAVAR Thomas, the Portmore United football head coach, was upbeat after they survived an early onslaught to leave Stadium East with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over hosts Cavalier FC in an absorbing Red Stripe Premier League encounter.

In cool, overcast conditions Sunday evening, Portmore’s Javon East scored from the penalty spot in the 18th minute, before 79th-minute substitute Hardley Barnes notched the team’s second goal two minutes after entering the fray.

It wasn’t all straightforward for Portmore, as Cavalier’s Chevone Marsh saw his penalty kick saved by Kemar Foster in the 13th minute. Moments before that Alex Marshall hit the upright, among chances that the home team got in the first half.

The win lifted title-holders Portmore to third with seven points from four matches, while Cavalier slipped to eighth with six points.

“I’m very happy because it’s three games on the trot without giving up a goal, as well as it’s an away game. To get three points helps to separate us from the people behind us, so this was important. Each game we are trying to build and get better and better,” Thomas said in reference to the improvement since Portmore’s 1-2 loss to Mount Pleasant FA in the season opener last month.

Thomas, the former Reggae Boyz defender, said his team had a hard time against the youthful and skilful Cavalier outfit.

“[Cavalier are] a quality team, especially on the offensive side. They have sharp, snappy movements and guys who are clever and nifty, so it’s hard to keep up with players like those. We expected them to come at us and that’s what they did, and luckily we escaped,” the Portmore coach told the Jamaica Observer.

Cavalier Head Coach Rudolph Speid lamented his side’s faulty finishing, dating back to last season where they went out at the play-off stage despite gaining plenty plaudits thanks to their flowing football.

“I think goal scoring is really an art — it’s difficult. But we are missing some very simple ones [opportunities] because we’re probably not concentrating as much. We still have to take heart from it — that we prefer to get chances and miss than to not get any,” Speid told the Observer.

Noting that the players on show for his team were all under 25, the Cavalier coach conceded that they are still developing as a unit.

“The build-up play is extremely good, and because we have fast, skilful players it’s always a handful for teams to deal with us. We’re lacking in the most [important] statistic, but it’s a work in progress. They are a bunch of youngsters, and sometimes you have to see with them and persevere because they are the future and maybe one day they’ll come good,” Speid explained.

Earlier on Sunday, Cavalier were the more energetic team for much of the first half.

They had a great chance to grab the lead when midfielder Leonard Rankine set Marshall clear on goal with a ball over the top of the visitors’ defence.

However, one-on-one with the advancing Foster, Marshall’s side-footer from left peg hit the upright and rebounded into play.

Spurred by that chance Cavalier raided the Portmore goal at will and they were given a penalty when Donnegy Fer was called for a handball inside the Portmore 18-yard box. Marsh’s approach to the kick appeared telegraphed as Foster guessed well to dive to his right and parry the ball aside.

At the other end, Portmore remained dangerous, exemplified by East’s sharp turn and shot from a tight angle that forced the Cavalier goalkeeper St Michael Edwards into a low save.

Moments later, East did find the back of the net, sending Edwards the wrong way with his left-footed kick from the 12-yard spot after Fer was fouled inside the Cavalier penalty area.

Portmore had more control in the second half, but the industrious Marshall kept buzzing about. At one stage deep into the half, the former schoolboy standout wiggled his way through the visiting team’s defence and fed a pass to Nicholas Hamilton who hit the near upright with a left footer.

However, in the 81st minute, Portmore made the game safe when Barnes ran onto a ball through the middle and rolled home.

Teams: Cavalier — St Michael Edwards, Chevone Marsh, Alex Marshall, Nicholas Hamilton, Jamoi Topey, Sheldon McKoy (Kyle Ming 44th), Jamar Purcell, Leonard Rankine (Kaheem Parris 67th), Jermy Nelson (Nicholas Nelson 72nd), Raheem Depass, Gadial Irving.

Subs not used: Claudius Blackburn, Tevin Scott, Ajuma Johnson, Mark Bryan

Booked: None

Portmore — Kemar Foster, Damano Solomon, Osani Ricketts, Roberto Johnson, Chavany Willis, Damian Williams, Donnegy Fer (Ricardo Morris 70th), Javon East (Cleon Pryce 75th), Romaine Brackenridge, Roshane Sharpe, Rondee Smith (Hardley Barnes 79th).

Subs not used: Shaven Paul, Rosario Harriott, Venton Evans, Ryan Wellington

Booked: Fer (12th)

Referee: Daneon Parchment

Assistant referees: Nicholas Anderson, Ojay Duhaney

Fourth official: Andre Farquharson

Match commissary: Andrew Payne