Hyde hails ‘encouraging’ display by young Portmore team

Portmore United’s coach, Lenworth Hyde, has described the performance by his young team in their 1-0 win over defending champions Cavalier in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game yesterday as “very encouraging”.

Portmore, who had only taken one point from their first two matches, were the big underdogs coming into the contest at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence. Hyde’s team proved they were the better side on the day, bossing possession and controlling the games for long periods, for which Hyde was extremely pleased.

“It was a good result. We did some work this week and brought in youngsters Markland Burton, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jahneil Wray.

“They brought some energy to the team and lifted the spirits of Demar Rose, and it augurs well for the team and how I want them to play.

“It will take time to build the chemistry and understanding. But it’s a work in progress and a great boost for the team. It will lift spirits in training, and the intensity will step up,” he commented.

In the first half, the chances were few. However, six minutes to the break, Portmore got the break when Rose capitalised on poor defending from the Cavalier defender and fired past Vino Barclett at the back post.

Dwayne Atkinson came close to an equalising before the break, but great goalkeeping denied him.

In the 70th minute, Ronaldo Webster steered a cross wide, and deep into added time, a glorious chance fell to Shaniel Thomas, who turned his header wide of the target.

The win puts Portmore level on four points from three games with Cavalier.

Cavalier’s assistant coach, David Laylor, said poor finishing cost them the game.

“In the first half we could not have wanted it any easier in terms of the opportunities we got to score, and when you miss so many scoring chances, you end up getting this type of result,” he said.

“Even in the last minute we got a good chance to score and still could have finished. So we definitely have our work cut out for us. But the main problem is we have to finish,” he insisted.

In the day’s other game, Waterhouse outclassed 10-man Dunbeholden 4-1 with a brace from Andre Leslie.

Cardel Benbow and Devroy Grey were the other scorers for Waterhouse. Dwayne Smith scored Dunbeholden’s goal in the 77th minute.

Dunbeholden’s central defender Shaquille Dyer was ejected after a second yellow card in the 80th minute.