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Grandison ... netted goals for Portmore. - File
The lead at the top of the Red Stripe Premier League table changed hands as first end-of-round final winners Portmore United moved into the ascendancy after defeating Sporting Central Academy 2-1, at Brancourt, to progress to 21 points.
Portmore got both goals from Ewan Grandison (20th and 44th), while eighth-place Sporting Central's (16 points) goal was scored by Levaughn Williams from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, for his fourth goal of the season.
Previous leaders and defending champions Tivoli Gardens were held to their sixth consecutive draw of the season after ending 1-1 with Montego Bay United at Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Promoted Montego Bay United opened the scoring through Maurceio Gordon in the 72nd minute, but the lead was short lived, as Mario Swaby equalised for Tivoli three minutes later. The result has left Tivoli second with 20 points, while Montego Bay remain in the relegation zone with 11 points.
Waterhouse (19 points) held firm at third despite playing the last ten minutes of their game with a man short, after Loxley Thomas was dismissed for his second bookable offence. The Donovan Duckie-conditioned team clipped 10th-place Highgate at Lynch Park courtesy of a ninth-minute penalty from Peter Keys.
Fifth-place Boys' Town (17 points) and sixth-place Reno (16 points) played to a goalless stalemate at the Frome Sports Complex.
Leon Strickland scored his first competitive goal since May and assisted two others as he propelled Arnett Gardens to a 3-1 triumph over Village United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Strickland found the back of the net in the 50th minute after Jonathan Williams (1st) and Omar Gordon (7th) had got the hosts off to a flying start.
Arnett's coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis was naturally pleased with the win and hopes his team can push on from there.
"The second round just started, so it wouldn't be a time for us to start panicking, but it is nice to get points now so you can try to secure yourself," Davis said.
"It is a good win for the club and for us as a team," he added.
The helpless Villagers sit at the foot of the standings on five points, as they are yet to gain a point away from home. Village's coach Kendale Mercury believes the early goals which were conceded really set back his team.
"Conceding two early goals kind of staggered us a little bit, but then we came back in the game, but we have been struggling for goals, so to go three behind was an uphill task," Mercury said.
Humble Lion were the biggest movers following the opening set of games in the second round, after registering a 2-0 over Harbour View at the Effortville Community Centre.
The win, which was Humble Lion's first at home this season, following six previous failed attempts, saw the Lenworth Hyde Sr-coached team leap from eighth in the 12-team standings to fourth on 18 points.
Humble Lion's goals, which were scored by Jermaine Christian (9th) and Carlington Smith (56th), condemned Harbour View to a three-place drop, as they moved from sixth to ninth with 15 points.
