Boys' Town's George Vernal (No.17) strikes the ball past Rivoli United's Christopher Hayles during the Digicel Premier League football match at Collie Smith Drive on Sunday. Peter Keyes scored at the 11th minute to hand Boys' Town a 1-0 win. - ricardo makyn

The stocky striker last night fired in the first of Portmore's three goals against promoted Meadhaven to move the defending champions from third to joint leadership with Harbour View in the Digicel Premier League (DPL).

Nelson, who has so far scored in every game in which he has suited up for Portmore since returning from Joe Public in the Trinidadian semi-pro league, opened the scoring in the 45th minute before Steven Morrissey and Ricardo Cousins finished off Meadhaven with goals in the 48th and 57th minutes, respectively.

Almost déja vu

It's almost déja vu, a repeat of last season when Nelson rejoined Portmore in the third round and not only led the champions to the title but also emerged leading goalscorer.

Portmore started the day locked on 31 points with Tivoli, who were second on goal difference, but leapfrogged the west Kingston men, as they fell 2-1 at home to Arnett Gardens, beaten by the Junglists for the second time this season.

Their big jump pulled them level on 34 with Harbour View, who went into their home match against Reno with 33, emerging with a point after a goalless draw at Compound.

However, Harbour View still lead Portmore on goal difference, keeping them atop the standings, a whisker ahead of the men from Ferdie Neita Park.

At Tivoli, Fabian Davis led from in front, scoring in the 20th minute. Craig Stewart cancelled Arnett's lead 12 minutes later but Kevin 'Pele' Wilson netted two minutes from time to hand the Junglists back-to-back wins, moving them to 18 points.

The result kept Arnett seventh in the table behind Waterhouse and fifth-place St Georges, who nipped Sporting Central 1-0 at Brancourt off Daniel Shaw's 31st -minute penalty.

Tivoli drop to third

Tivoli dropped to third, staying on 31 points, one ahead of Boys' Town, who edged Rivoli 1-0 off Peter Keyes' 12th minute cracker at Collie Smith Drive.

Waterhouse drew 1-1 with Village United, squandering chance after chance and let in a silly goal, allowing the Trelawny men to come from behind at Drewsland.

Kevin Lamey finished Jonathan Williams' dummy atop the 18-yard box in the 13th minute, calmly dribbling two paces forward inside the box before shooting a high shot past Jacomena Barrett.

Village's danger man, Fabian Dawkins, who drew two yellow cards in the first 28 minutes, mesmerising Waterhouse's defenders with his dribbling skills, got a gift from makeshift sweeper Michael Stone four minutes from the break.

A long ball played out of defence from the top of Village's 18-yard box by Omar Allen sent Dawkins chasing near the right side of Waterhouse's 18-yard area.

Coach Hugh 'Bingi' Blair replaced the sweeper with Damarley Oliver after the break and Stone was seen exiting the ground seven minutes inside the second half gesticulating, obviously not pleased with his substitution.

Blair afterwards said his team started well but discipline broke down at the back, which was missing regular sweeper Marco McDonald, who watched the match from the ground floor of the stands, nursing an injury.

"We started progressive and, along the way, made a mistake at the back. Indiscipline caused the goal. From now on, I will have to take some drastic decisions," he added as Waterhouse stayed sixth in the standings, moving to 23 points, six off fifth-place St Georges.

Stone's teammates got ample chances to undo his wrong but were let down by poor decisions in front goal.

Stamp of class

Midfileders Vincent Earle and Irvino English, who replaced the injured pair of Hugh Howell and forward Deveron Clarke in the 54th and 59th minutes, respectively, immediately stamped their class.

However, Earle had an awkward header cleared off the line in the 77th minute after English's high shot from 20-odd yards beat Barrett off his line but not the crossbar. The rebound fell for Earle in the six-yard box but he appeared caught in two minds and nodded a tame header, which Andre Moore cleared off the line.

Lamey, who was fractionally caught offside in the 85th minute as he rifled a shot into the net, popped up on the right side again in the third minute of stoppage time but booted what should have been the winner over the crossbar.

Village's Mervin Whyte said he was happy with the draw away from home, which took his team to 13 points, marginally outside relegation, replaced by Meadhaven in 11th place with 12 points, one ahead of fellow promoted team Sporting Central on 11.

Tivoli Gardens' Christopher Jackson (left) tries to keep the ball away from Arnett Gardens' Ricardo Smith in the Digicel Premier League at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday. Arnett won the game 2-1. - ricardo makyn