'No complacency please'

Portmore United head coach Ricardo Gardner has implored his team not to complacent after their 3-1 beating of Tivoli Gardens in the Jamaica Premier League yesterday.

Goals from Jevick McFarlane, Demar Rose, and Ricardo Morris carried Portmore to a comfortable win over Tivoli Gardens, who lost goalkeeper Kewong Watkins to a second bookable offence in the 52nd minute at the UWI/JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

However, Gardner was impressed with the manner in which they controlled their opponents and he said that it is important that his players do not slack off, but focus on getting better each week.

"Football is 90 minutes and we don't want to get bored of the good habits that we continue to develop and improve on each week," Gardner said after the game. "We want to continue to build on our last game. But it's a work in progress. It is a positive result and a positive performance from the group and the players enjoyed it today and we want them to continue enjoying their game.

"We moved the ball well and created enough chances and should have put away more. But we create enough chances and we continue to improve each week and that is what we want to do as a club and as individuals. We are just taking each game and training one day at a time and just try to be better for the next one."

Portmore dominated the first half and it was only a matter of time before McFarlane fired them into the lead in the 36th minute. Two minutes later, Demar Rose, making his debut in midfield for the St Catherine club, found space on top of the area to score and put his team 2-0 up.

Ricardo Morris netted Portmore's third when he beat Nicholas Clarke with a direct corner kick on the hour. Rodico Wellington got a consolation goal for Tivoli with a deflected free kick in the 72nd minute.

Gardner also thought their performance deserved more goals.

"The players took their foot off the gas a little but we still had control of the game," he said. "We had most possession and we had things in control. But we took our foot off the gas at times and that is what I meant by we can get bored with the good habits. Some of those bad habits, we want to get out of our game, and our daily execution.

"We managed the game and we did see it out well. But we have to continue to improve and don't take these things for granted. So we have to keep improving each week in training and games. It is very important."

Portmore lead the JPL points table with nine points from four games. They are followed by Harbour View and Vere with eight points, then Cavalier on seven. Tivoli are seventh with four points.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Teams

Portmore: Kemar Foster, Damano Solomon, Alvinus Myers, Emelio Rousseau, Tajay Brown, Seigel Knight, Demar Rose (Chavani Willis 64th), Shande James (Rivaldo Mitchell 84th), Ricardo Morris, Demario Phillips (Omar Reid 84th), Jevick McFarlane (Nicholas McArthur 64th).

Unused subs: Eric Edwards, Antonio Biggs, Jevoun Bascoe.

Tivoli: Kewong Watkins, Barrington Pryce, Kemar Flemmings, Odean Pennycooke, Shavar Campbell, Andre Smith, Davion Garrison (Nicholas Clarke 53), Jermaine Johnson (Tkiven Garnett 64th), Rodico Wellington, Anthony Nelson, Horatio Morgan (Devroy Grey 58th)

Unused subs: Justin Dunn, Tommy Lawrence, Steven McQueen, Rushane Thompson.