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Harbour View draw level with Waterhouse <DIV class=KonaBody Ar6jv="true">
By Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Tivoli Gardens player Denroy Gordon (on the ground) makes a sweeping tackle on a Seba player in their National Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday. Tivoli won 1-0. - Ian Allen </DIV>Harbour View continued to close in on champions Waterhouse following a 1-0 win over Portmore United at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night, as the title holders continue to struggle to stay atop the Wray and Nephew National Premier League standings.
In fact, Habour View are now level on points with the defending champions on 34, following Waterhouse's 1-1 draw with Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex. However, the Drewsland team continues to lead the league by goal difference as they have a +19 advantage while last year's runners-up, Harbour View, have a +9.
Oniel Smith scored the goal which saw the Stars of the East inch closer to the top spot in the 40th minute. Following up on a promising build-up, Smith chipped the ball over the head of a stranded Portmore custodian Shawn Sawyers from the edge of the 18-yard box to give his team all three points and a third straight win.
At the Anthony Spaulding Complex, Waterhouse found themselves a goal behind when striker Marcelino Blackburn put away an easy opportunity in the 49th minute.
Positive outlook
Waterhouse captain Craig White (left) tackles Arnett Gardens' Loxley Thompson during their National Premier League match at the Tony Spaulding Complex yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen
However, Irvino English rescued a share of the points for the champions in the 55th minute when he headed home from close range to beat Arnett goalkeeper Julian McLiesh, who had remained glued to his line. Despite dropping five points in two games, Waterhouse coach Barrington Gaynor says the team still has a positive outlook.
" We are going through a tough patch right now, so the confidence is not as high as it was earlier in the season," Gaynor explained.
"However, we will just have to keep going and hopefully at the end of it all we will still be able to come out on top," he added.
Third place Reno also made up some ground as they moved to within three points of the lead following a 2-0 victory over Naggo Head at Ferdie Neita Park. Draion McNain netted in the 44th minute, while the clubs leading goalscorer Ricardo Scott finished the deal with a 77th-minute strike. Reno are now on 31 points while Naggo Head remain in last-place on three points.
In other games, Tivoli Gardens moved into fifth spot on 26 points following a 1-0 victory over ninth-place Seba United. Nicholas McCreath netted for the former champions in the 85th minute. August Town's bid to remain in top-flight football received a boost when they stopped Boys' Town 2-0 at the Barbican playing field. Gary Brooks opened the account for August Town in the 55th minute while Eltham schoolboy Tremaine Stewart tapped in a second in the 85th. August Town now join both Seba and Wadadah on 15 points. At the Elliston Wakeland Centre, Wadadah continue to scrap for their points as they could only manage a 0-0 draw against seventh-place Village United.