Harbour View rebound from coach’s sacking with draw
Published:Tuesday | December 3, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
HARBOUR VIEW Football Club started life after the sacking of coach Jason ‘Buju’ Henry with a draw against fellow Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League strugglers Vere United with a draw at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium yesterday.
Vere United, who entered the encounter winless in five games, and have the unenviable distinction of conceding the most goals in the competition, went in search of goals early on in the encounter but failed to grab any clear-cut chances.
Vere United’s Romarion Thomas was given a glimpse on goal in the 35th minute but was shut out by an outstretched boot from Harbour View’s custodian Demelcio Fer.
In the second half, Harbour View’s attackers tried to string together more passes among themselves in a bid to create goalscoring opportunities but were denied as the Vere United backline stood firm.
In the 63rd minute, Vere United’s captain Matthew Woo Ling from just outside the box had a chance, via a free kick, to get the game’s opening goal but his left-footed shot was easily palmed away by Fer.
Harbour View, who entered the fixture having only scored once in their previous three fixtures, tried vehemently to make something of the game and received a glimpse of the Vere United goal in the 68th minute but Andre Fagan’s right-footed effort was comfortably handled by goalkeeper Shakur Adair.
The result meant that Harbour View’s scoreless run has now extended to three games while Vere United’s winless run has extended to six, but with the point the latter moves the from bottom of the table.
Lenworth Hyde, head coach of Vere United, said he was pleased with the way the team defended.
“We did a lot of transition work this week from defence to offence and that’s why we stood up on the day. We defended well and everybody did well in not giving up a goal. I think that was a plus for the team, we’re growing, we’re getting better and with the reinforcements coming, we’ll get better,” he said.
Newly appointed head coach of Harbour View, Donald Stewart, said despite coming up goalless, again, his team was solid.
“I think we played well, however, our decision-making in the final third was a little off. Players weren’t taking the responsibility of taking the shots, at times, but we did well and we nullified what they were trying to do.”