Vere clip Harbour View in ill-tempered JPL clash

Vere United chalked up their second win in the 2022-23 Jamaica Premier League season following a 1-0 win over Harbour View at the Wembley Centre of Excellence yesterday.

The lone goal came from as early as the second minute after goalkeeper David Martin made a hash of a back pass and was robbed by Lamard Neil, who rifled a shot into the upper right corner to score Vere’s fourth goal of the campaign.

Harbour View would, however, get the lion’s share of the possession for the majority of the half, but they lacked penetration in the final third, with goalkeeper Roje Williams hardly tested.

The contest would boil over following some calls by referee Carvel Banton, with the Harbour View coaching staff and bench remonstrating their frustration.

It was one of those incidents that saw one of Harbour View’s coaching staff being issued a red card, and soon after that incident, a fracas broke out behind the Harbour View bench involving members of the security forces and Harbour View team manager Oneil Smith.

The fracas saw a number of Harbour View players involved, including coach Ludlow Bernard, with the police officers having to dislodge a round to disperse the angry Harbour View contingent.

After a 10-minute delay, the game was restarted, but the incident knocked the stuffing out of both teams, and the early goal proved decisive for Vere United and new assistant coach Jermaine Douglas, who was pleased to secure their second win.

“This win is very important for us to climb up the table, and that is the objective. The team has been struggling all season in front of goal, and now we have gotten one in each of the last two games, and hopefully, we can continue on this journey,” Douglas said.

Harbour View’s coach, Ludlow Bernard, declined an interview with the media.

Vere United, with the three points, have moved above Molynes United temporarily into 11th place with 13 points.

Elsewhere, a hat-trick from leading talisman Trivante Stewart carried leaders Mount Pleasant to a 3-0 win over Dunbeholden at Drax Hall. The Humble Lion vs Waterhouse and Cavalier vs Montego Bay United games both ended in a 0-0 draws.