Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

Newland FC's Sasha Welsh (left) tackles Portmore United's Anthony Bennett during a St. Catherine Co-operative Credit Union Happy Sutherland KO match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday. Portmore United won 1-0. - anthony minott

Onandi Lowe continued his good scoring form when he scored the winner for defending champions Portmore United in a 1-0 win over Newland FC in the quarter-final of the St. Catherine Co-operative Credit Union Happy Sutherland KO competition at the Prison Oval in Spanish Town on Sunday.

Lowe who scored in the 64th minute of this game, also scored twice in their recent round of 16 game against Black Lions coming on as a second half substitute.

This time, the burly former national striker started the game and ran for 90 minutes, but he had to be patient against a Newland team which, through to Sasha Welsh, Rohan Smith and Lancelot Williams took the game to them, especially in the first half.

However, Lowe scored what was a superb goal, he lashed on to a cross from Jermaine Simpson from the right side and turned acrobatically to fire past Donovan Wright in goal for Newland.

Portmore United's coach Paul Young thought it was a well-contested game. "Newland came to play and it was well-contested match, but in a knockout game you need only one goal and we got it, we are defending champions and we are just going to take it one game at a time," Young said. He added that Onandi Lowe's condition has improved and he had an excellent game.

The first half saw a lot of action with Newland holding their own against their more celebrated opponents. Newland's custodian actually kept them in the game earlier, making at least five saves.

In the second half Portmore, led by Lowe, Mario Swaby, Jason Morrison, Simpson and Anthony Bennett, went into high gear placing their opponent's defence under severe pressure.

"Football is a mental game, we stopped doing the things that worked for us in the first half and that's where we fell down," coach of Newland, Michael Small, said.

The other three quarter-final games will be played this weekend.

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