Nicholson gives Boys' Town first win

Shamar Nicholson scored in his fourth successive match to give Boys' Town their first win in five matches in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), beating newcomers and former table-toppers Jamalco 1-0 at The Barbican Sports Complex, yesterday.

The lanky striker, who scored in successive losing efforts against Harbour View, Montego Bay United and Portmore United, finally saw his goal give his team some much-needed points and he said there is more to come.

"It's a good feeling, knowing we lost our four games and to come and win the fifth game and get the MVP is a good feeling. You can't imagine how I feel!" he told The Gleaner.

The 19-year-old, who is in his third season in the RSPL, says he feels at home in the league, and with his team relying heavily on him to get goals and points, he expects to carry on his form and continue to deliver through the season.

"I expected this performance because, throughout the pre-season, it was just hard work and this just don't come like this. It takes hard work. My team is looking up to me a lot and I have been doing the job, but we have been making basic mistakes, but we are working on correcting those errors. So you can expect better from Boys' Town," he said.

Boys' Town started brightly and were rewarded for their early spark when Nicholson turned his marker and unleashed a well-placed shot past Levar Williams in the seventh minute

OVER THE TARGET

Jamalco eventually came into their own and created a few openings, the best of which fell to Akeem Henry on top of the area, but he placed his effort just over the target.

Nicholson continued to be Boys' Town's biggest threat after the break, forcing Williams into a diving save from Xavian Virgo on 58 minutes, then curling a shot just wide minutes later, before heading just wide of the target from a corner. However, they held off wave after wave of attacks from the visitors, although goalkeeper Kirk Porter was rarely threatened despite Boys' Town being on the back foot.

Boys' Town coach Andrew Price believes the win was long in coming and complimented his team on their collective work defensively.

"I told them as long as we start getting clean sheets, we are going to start winning games ... and we defended well collectively," he said.

He also praised Nicholson for stepping up, but issued a hands-off warning to local suitors who might be thinking of prying away the young striker in the January window.

"He's a big player. I told him that being the top striker on our team, he has to get goals. Every game he should get one goal, and if he can get two or three, which he should, then that would be a plus. But there are always going to be suitors (local), but we will only be looking at offers from overseas," he said.