IRWIN, St James — Reggae Youths started the defence of their St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Major League with a comfortable 5-2 win over Irwin United at Irwin High on Saturday.

Shanoy Anderson scored a double to lead Reggae Youths as they joined Heights FC at the top of the points tables, both on three points after both won their opening games.

Heights came from an early goal down to beat Granville United 2-1 in the opening game on Friday while newcomers Green Pond SC and last season’s beaten finalists Flanker United played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

At Irwin on Saturday, Anderson scored late in the first half and early in the second half to stake Reggae Youths to a 2-1 lead.

Anderson opened the scoring in the 40th minute, but Mark Buddle levelled for Irwin United on the stroke of half-time.

Anderson restored his team’s lead in the 50th minute and Denardo Kerr made it 3-1 three minutes later before Chaddaine Blagrove made it 4-1 in the 75th minute.

A mistake by the Reggae Youths goalkeeper Tevin Gordon by spilling the ball in his 18-yard box, which allowed Jaheim Perkins to tap into an empty goal to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Raion Bernard, however, added a goal in the 88th minute as Reggae Youths got off to a winning start.

On Friday, Heights FC rallied to beat Granville United, thanks to a double from Jevar Maxwell.

Renaldo Clarke gave the home team the lead as early as the third minute but Maxwell equalised in the sixth minute then scored the winner in the 60th minute.

Flanker United also came from a goal down to earn a point as Jerome Whynn scored in the fifth minute for Green Pond SC before Khalid Stephenson equalised in the 12th minute.

— Paul A Reid