Humble Lions climbed off the bottom of the table with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Harbour View on Sunday and reignited their slim chances of making the Jamaica Premier League play-offs.
Goals by Andrew Vanzie from the penalty spot in 61st minute and substitute Levaughn Williams in the 87th minute pushed Humble Lions to just their second win of the season.
Vanzie expertly dispatched the penalty after goalkeeper Akeem Smith was adjudged by referee Kevin Morrison to have fouled Andre Clennon.
It was Vanzie’s third goal of the season and his second from the penalty spot.
Then Williams, who replaced Javane Thompson in the 65th minute, sealed the victory when he tapped home from close range with the Harbour View defence all over the place.
It was a most crucial win for Humble Lions as they moved from 11th to 10th on six points but more importantly, they are just three points adrift of a top-six play-off spot.
Holding that last play-off spot is the tumbling Harbour View which lost their third match of the season and are sitting in sixth spot on nine points.
With a tightly-knitted mid-table, the rush for the play-off positions is heating up as even bottom-placed Arnett Gardens on four points are still in contention.
The Clarendon-based Humble Lions, the usual standard-bearers of the parish, have been upstaged by the less established Vere United, which sit atop of the Jamaica Premier League with 14 points and basically into the play-offs.
Vere United, formerly Jamalco FC, have emerged as the top team in Clarendon which was confirmed by their 3-1 win over Humble Lions in the second round.
But Andrew Price has stuck with the task and now there is hope for Humble Lions as they realistically can reach the play-offs and once they do, they will be dangerous contenders with a lot of experience.
It was a very good win over the Stars of the East led by captain Andrew Vanzie, Andre Clennon, Afiba Chambers, Lorenzo Lewin, Leonardo Jibbison and Levaughn Wiliams.
But this could have been different had it not been for some outstanding goalkeeping from Humble Lions captain Dennis Taylor who made some important saves throughout the game, especially in the first half when he denied Lennox Russell and top marksman Oquassa Chong on the stroke of halftime.
Harbour View inserted veteran playmaker Romario Campbell and talented touch player John Luca Levee in the middle of the park. The calming Casseam Priestley was relegated to the bench but replaced Levee for the second half.
The talented Cristojaye Daley was also benched but came on in the 59th minute along with Tevin Scott as Harbour View searched for that successful combination.
But things did work as coach Ludlow Bernard would have loved and Harbour View are now left with some work to do in order to hold onto that last play-off spot.
Man-of-the-match: Andrew Vanzie (Humble Lions)
Teams: Humble Lions – 44-Dennis Taylor, 18-Shemar Rhoden, 19-Gregory Lewis, 23-Suege Graham, 13-Mark Rodney, 12-Andrew Vanzie, 24-Leonardo Jibbison (03-Romeo Parkins 77th), 15-Lorenzo Lewin (06-Fabian Pascoe 90+2), 29-Javane Thompson (10-Levaughn Williams 65th), 34-Afiba Chambers, 14-Andre Clennon (45-Rohan Richards 90+1).
Subs not used: 55-Mikhail Harrison, 60-Keneil Petrie, 27-Gregory Morgan, 42-Cory Hylton.
Coach: Andrew Price
Booked: Mark Rodney 9th, Lorenzo Lewin 65th, Andre Clennon 80th, Gregory Lewis 81st
Harbour View: 50-Akeem Smith, 17-Ajeanie Talbott, 19-Akeem Mullings, 21-Odorland Harding, 16-Garth Stewart (27-Jamone Shepherd 46th), 45-Renaldo Wellington, 14-John Luca Levee (12-Casseam Priestly 46th), 26-Romario Campbell (30-Tevin Scott 74th), 08-Lennox Russell (13-Cristojaye Daley 59th), 22-Oquassa Chong, 15-Tyrese Williams (18-Ron-Jay Watson 56th).
Subs not used: 01-Tafari Chambers, 29-Oshane Staple, 34-Kareem McLean, 24-Ronaldo Robinson.
Coach: Ludlow Bernard
Booked: Romario Campbell 22nd, Garth Stewart 32nd, Akeem Smith 60th
Referee: Kevin Morrison
Assistant Referee 1: Stephanie-Dale Yee Sing
Assistant Referee 2: Jermaine Yee Sing
Fourth Official: Andrew Hayden
Match Commissioner: Garfield McDonald
