Boys' Town's Shane Edwards (right) jostles with Village United's Cordell Simpson for possession during their teams' 30th-round meeting in the Red Stripe Premier League yesterday at Collie Smith Drive. The game ended goalless.Ricardo Makyn

Portmore United made a strong statement in the 30th round of the Red Stripe Premier League, as they yesterday got by fellow title aspirants Waterhouse 2-1 at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium to once again take their lead into double figures.

Portmore, who last week suffered their first home defeat of the current campaign, achieved victory through goals from Alanzo Adlam, who netted his ninth of the season in the 20th minute, and Ewan Grandison (63rd). Waterhouse's goal was scored by Damion Williams in the 58th minute.

The Calvin Lewis-coached Portmore team has now progressed to 60 points, 10 ahead of second-place Boys' Town (50), with eight rounds of games remaining in the season.

Waterhouse, who were failing to register a win for the sixth consecutive game, slipped one place in the 12-team standings to fourth on 45 points.

Boys' Town failed to build on their impressive 4-2 win over Portmore in the previous round, as they were held to a nil-all draw by cellar-dwellers Village United at their Collie Smith Drive home base.

The result saw Village slump into an even more precarious position on 23 points, as they lost further ground on 10th-place Highgate United.

four clear

A 21st-minute strike by Roberto Fletcher was enough to carry Highgate past Reno in their meeting at the Frome Sports Complex and propel them up to 29 points, four clear of the relegation zone.

Humble Lion climbed two places up to third, after coming from behind to stop Montego Bay United 2-1. The win took the Lions up to 46 points, while MoBay fell one place to eighth by way of goal difference, as they have 38 points, the same as Sporting Central Academy.

MoBay took the lead in the 19th minute through Omar Gordon, but the Lions roared back through goals from Wolry Wolfe (67th) and Lenworth Hyde Jr (90+1).

Harbour View failed to secure a win for the fifth consecutive game, as they were undone by a

39th-minute Lamar Nelson strike in their clash with Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

The win moved the Junglists to seventh; level on points with sixth-place Harbour View, as both teams have amassed 39 points. The Stars of the East, however, enjoy a superior goal difference.

Defending champions, Tivoli Gardens, who occupy fourth on 44 points, will tonight host ninth-place Sporting Central at the Edward Seaga Complex in a 9:15 p.m. matchup.