by Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Roen Nelson (second right) of Portmore United gets congratulations from teammates after scoring one of four goals against Tivoli in the Cash Plus Premier League match at Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday. The players are Bryan Bayliss (left), Anthony Bennett (second left), and Michael Binns (right). - Ricardo Makyn

COACH Linval Dixon yesterday labelled his team the best in the league after striker Roen Nelson scored his second four-timer of the season to knock Tivoli Gardens from atop the Cash Plus Premier League standings with a 4-2 victory at the Edward Seaga Stadium.

Portmore, who were missing seven regulars, started three Under-21 players, Andre Campbell, Michael Binns and Bryan Bayliss in addition to former Boys' Town midfielder Omar Campbell, and still ran out big winners over Tivoli, who went into the match two points ahead but now trail their rivals by one.

"We were pretty much confident as we believed in ourselves," said Dixon, whose team moved to 47 points and will also play their next game, at home against St Georges, missing eight players who are away in Brazil at a national training camp.

"The remaining players were anxious and willing. They came and proved themselves today. We basically proved we are the best team up there," he added.

Waterhouse stayed third but lost ground, earning a point to move to 39, allowing Reno to rally from two first-half goals to draw at Drewsland.

Harbour View clubbed Sporting Central 3-0 at Compound but are still fifth on 37 points, one behind idle Boys' Town, who are away playing a two-match series against the Cayman national team.

However, Seba eased past St Georges into sixth place, repeating their 1-0 first-round win at Lynch Park in Portland.

Meanwhile, Village United continued their splendid third-round form, jumping to ninth place with a 1-0 win over last-place August town at the Elliston Wakeland Centre off a stoppage-time goal from Ian McAnuff.

Village joined idle eighth-place Arnett Gardens and Sporting Central on 29 points but have the second-best goal difference of the trio.

August Town remain anchored at the foot of the table with a game in hand, last on 21 points, six behind Reno.

Nelson, who made his local debut with four goals against August Town in the second round after starring for Trinidad and Tobago's Joe Public, stunned Tivoli with another four-timer, starting his goal-spree in the 14th minute before opening up the throttle in the 43rd, 65th and 71st minutes as his team raced to a 4-1 lead.

Nelson, who holds the local premiership record of most goals in a season, opened with a perfect back-post shot from outside the box, 23 yards on the right flank, rifling the ball low and hard across Tivoli goalie Damion Crooks, whose dive was more for show than an attempt to save.

He made it 2-1 off a firm square from Ryan Powell, turning the wing-back's pass with a one-time shot past Crooks from inside the box.

Nelson's last two goals were contrasting ones as he dribbled away from two Tivoli defenders before burying a low but hard shot inside Crooks' near post in the 65th and had an easy tap-in from 12 yards off Anthony Bennett's right-side cross six minutes later.

Substitute Jermaine Grey netted a long-range beauty from 30 yards for Tivoli's second goal in the 90th minute but home fans had already started scampering from the ground after Nelson's fourth strike.