<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Strikers retain title</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Clarke, Reid lead Portmore to mid-season triumph</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter
Thursday, August 31, 2006
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shereen Clarke and Venicia Reid struck first-half goals yesterday that enabled Portmore Strikers to retain their Sherwin Williams mid-season title with a 2-1 win over Harbour View at Constant Spring.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Clarke scored in the 19th minute and Reid doubled the lead for the winners in the 26th.
Harbour View pulled a goal back in the 76th minute through Peta-Gay Soman's free-kick, but could not find the equaliser despite camping out in the winners' area for much of the second half.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=360 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Portmore Strikers' Tashana Vincent (right) tries to get by Kerri-ann Edwards of Harbour View (centre) while Venicia Reid looks on at Constant Spring yesterday. Portmore won, 2-1. (Photo: Karl McLarty) </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>A strong first half by the girls from the Sunshine City saw them dominating early play, with national striker Reid their main target up front.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The game was brought to life when Clarke picked up a loose ball and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from some 25 yards, which gave goalkeeper Keris Heywood little chance.
On the back of Clarke's strike, the defending mid-season champions created another opening when Reid was sent through on a defence-splitting pass to slot into an empty goal after rounding the advancing goalkeeper.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Harbour View tried desperately to dig themselves out of the two-goal deficit, but poor passing in the final attacking third proved their undoing.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In fact, the girls from the east could have found themselves in even deeper trouble, but Reid's strike partner Rochelle Bryan shot wide on 36 minute after dismissing a sliding Heywood in front of goal.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Bryan found herself in similar position early in the second half, but shot wide as well after being released by a through ball.
Vin Blaine, the national women's coach who also guides Harbour View, brought on some fresher legs for his team, who ultimately dominated possession in a bid to reduce the deficit.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The goal finally came through Soman's floated free-kick which caused national goalkeeper Peatria Campbell to be impeded by the sun's rays, with the ball dipping into the goal behind Campbell, who reacted rather belatedly.
Despite the win, Portmore's coach Cornell Clarke was not happy with his team's display.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I think it was a scrappy game," Clarke said.
"My team didn't play well... I didn't think the Harbour View team play well either. We played well in the first half and got the two goals. In the second half we came out a little bit tentative and the players didn't follow instructions... they wanted more to defend the two goals."<P class=StoryText align=justify>In his assessment, Blaine said his team lost the game on the defensive end.
"We weren't playing well defensively at all and all credit must go to Portmore Strikers. I think they played a good game today," Blaine said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I didn't see anything that we should be worried about, really, because they (Portmore) were just knocking the ball long for Venicia (Reid) to run onto, but our central defenders were not adjusting... and it cost us that second goal," he added.
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Clarke, Reid lead Portmore to mid-season triumph</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter
Thursday, August 31, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>Shereen Clarke and Venicia Reid struck first-half goals yesterday that enabled Portmore Strikers to retain their Sherwin Williams mid-season title with a 2-1 win over Harbour View at Constant Spring.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Clarke scored in the 19th minute and Reid doubled the lead for the winners in the 26th.
Harbour View pulled a goal back in the 76th minute through Peta-Gay Soman's free-kick, but could not find the equaliser despite camping out in the winners' area for much of the second half.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=360 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Portmore Strikers' Tashana Vincent (right) tries to get by Kerri-ann Edwards of Harbour View (centre) while Venicia Reid looks on at Constant Spring yesterday. Portmore won, 2-1. (Photo: Karl McLarty) </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>A strong first half by the girls from the Sunshine City saw them dominating early play, with national striker Reid their main target up front.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The game was brought to life when Clarke picked up a loose ball and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from some 25 yards, which gave goalkeeper Keris Heywood little chance.
On the back of Clarke's strike, the defending mid-season champions created another opening when Reid was sent through on a defence-splitting pass to slot into an empty goal after rounding the advancing goalkeeper.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Harbour View tried desperately to dig themselves out of the two-goal deficit, but poor passing in the final attacking third proved their undoing.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In fact, the girls from the east could have found themselves in even deeper trouble, but Reid's strike partner Rochelle Bryan shot wide on 36 minute after dismissing a sliding Heywood in front of goal.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Bryan found herself in similar position early in the second half, but shot wide as well after being released by a through ball.
Vin Blaine, the national women's coach who also guides Harbour View, brought on some fresher legs for his team, who ultimately dominated possession in a bid to reduce the deficit.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The goal finally came through Soman's floated free-kick which caused national goalkeeper Peatria Campbell to be impeded by the sun's rays, with the ball dipping into the goal behind Campbell, who reacted rather belatedly.
Despite the win, Portmore's coach Cornell Clarke was not happy with his team's display.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I think it was a scrappy game," Clarke said.
"My team didn't play well... I didn't think the Harbour View team play well either. We played well in the first half and got the two goals. In the second half we came out a little bit tentative and the players didn't follow instructions... they wanted more to defend the two goals."<P class=StoryText align=justify>In his assessment, Blaine said his team lost the game on the defensive end.
"We weren't playing well defensively at all and all credit must go to Portmore Strikers. I think they played a good game today," Blaine said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I didn't see anything that we should be worried about, really, because they (Portmore) were just knocking the ball long for Venicia (Reid) to run onto, but our central defenders were not adjusting... and it cost us that second goal," he added.
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