Champions Portmore United showed real resilience to beat The University of the West Indies (UWI) 1-0 playing with 10 men for the last 22 minutes of normal time in their Red Stripe Premier League match, thus opening up an eight-point lead atop the table.

Tough-tackling defender Damano Solomon was ejected for careless and reckless play on Akeem Thenstead in the 68th minute, but Javon East converted a 76th-minute penalty for Portmore United for their fifth-consecutive win.

It was East’s ninth goal of the season, which puts him level with his teammate Rondee Smith and fourth in the golden boot race behind Fabian Reid of Arnett Gardens on 11 goals.

It was Portmore United’s 17th win from 29 games and they raced to 59 points — well on their way to securing the $1-million prize for the most points in the preliminary round.

The UWI, who remained provisionally in fifth spot on 42 points, should have earned a share of the points, but the influential Fabian McCarthy saw his feeble penalty kick saved by Portmore’s goalkeeper Benjamin William in the 89th minute.

It wasn’t the most fluent display from Portmore United, but was a very good victory against a team they failed to beat all season, having drawn 1-1 on October 28 before losing 1-2 on January 13. Only second-place Waterhouse have not felt the sword of the marauding Portmore United this season.

Veteran Damian Williams turned back the years with a commanding display in the middle of the park for Portmore, disrupting the attacks of UWI with a number of successful tackles, calmness on the ball, accompanied by his pin-point passes.

St George’s College schoolboy Emelio Rosseau was a constant threat with his crosses, as was the skilful Andre Lewis who earned the penalty. So deep is the Portmore squad that the talented Lamar Walker — arguably Jamaica’s best young player — warmed the bench throughout.

Meanwhile, former champions Montego Bay United won their second-consecutive game, beating Reno 2-1 in the bottom-of-the-table clash to be on 27 points in 11th spot. Reno remained at the bottom on 23 points.

The promoted Mount Pleasant Football Academy all but secured their play-off berth with a 1-0 win over Humble Lion at Effortville. Francois Swaby, who left Humble Lion for Mount Pleasant in the January transfer window, scored the winner in minute 13. Mount Pleasant climbed into third on 50 points, while Humble Lion remained in eighth spot on 31 points and have fallen into the clutches of the relegation battlers, sitting just four points above them.

Teams: UWI — Amal Knight, Michael Heaven, Kareem Manning, Kemar Flemmings, Fabian McCarthy, Patrick Brown, Ramoun Reid, Jerondy Henry (Javoy Belnavis 79th), Dawayne Smith (Davian Garrison 73rd), Ryan Miller (Calwane Allen 81st), Akeem Thenstead

Subs not used: Nicholas King, Taniel McKenzie, Rochane Smith, Tejuarn Williams.

Booked: Ramoun Reid 73rd

Portmore United: Benjamin Williams, Damano Solomon, Roberto Johnson, Rosario Harriott, Emelio Rousseau, Damian Williams, Osani Ricketts, Ricardo Morris, Donnegy Fer (Roshane Sharpe 72nd), Andre Lewis (Cleon Pryce 84th), Javon East (Rondee Smith 84th)

Subs not used: Shaven Paul, Lamar Walker, Hardley Barnes, Ryan Wellington

Booked: Solomon (68th, ejected)

Referee: Daneon Parchment

Assistant referees: Nicholas Anderson, Mojollee Gayle

Fourth official: Andre Farquharson

Match commissary: Anthony Gibbs

Yesterday’s results

Reno 1, Montego Bay United 2

Humble Lion 0, Mount Pleasant 1

UWI 0, Portmore United 1

Cavalier 1, Dunbeholden 1