Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Portmore United's Michael Binns (right) dribbles away from Boys' Town's Michael Campbell (left) and George Vernal during Premier League action yesterday at Collie Smith Drive. Portmore won 2-1. - Ian Allen

LEADERS Portmore United yesterday inched closer to the Premier League title, shooting eight points clear of second-place Tivoli Gardens atop the standings after notching a 2-1 win over Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive.

Tivoli, who started the day five adrift of the leaders, fancied their chances of pulling closer after drawing promoted Sporting Central in the first match of the five-game fourth round, but were shot down 1-0 by the sixth-place team at the Edward Seaga Stadium.

Victory for Sporting Central moved the Clarendon men to 42 points, four behind fifth-place Waterhouse, who drew 1-1 at home with third-place Harbour View (48).

Meanwhile, the relegation battle heated up with Reno inching to 34 points, the same as August Town, after a 0-0 draw with Arnett Gardens at St Elizabeth Technical High.

However, the Westmoreland men are 11th, on head-to-head meetings with August Town, who were beaten 3-1 at Jarrett Park by Seba after giving up a 32nd-minute lead.

Arnett Gardens slipped two points above the bottom duo to be 10th on 36 points, still not yet out of relegation woes with four games to go.

Seba's win pushed them to 41, one behind Village, who moved to the top of the bottom group, leapfrogging St Georges (39), who they beat 2-0 at the Elliston Wakeland centre.

At Collie Smith Drive, Portmore scored two incredible early goals to knock the wind out of Boys' Town in the first half.

With spectators still pressing to get into the ground in the first minute, midfielder Michael Binns looked up from near half-line and saw goalkeeper Kirk Porter marginally off his line and sent a looping shot goalward from 40-odd yards in left midfield.

The pace of the ball caught a backtracking Porter by surprise and by the time he dived to his back post it was too late as the ball had already lodged inside the net. Totally unaware of where his post was, the Boys' Town 'keeper crashed into the upright and crumbled into a heap.

It took several minutes before he was stretchered off and substituted, making way for Philmore Crumbie who, himself, let in an incredulous goal in the 22nd minute, beaten at his near post by a Ricardo Cousins square from near the corner flag on the right side of goal.

Boys' Town came out strong for the second half but soon wilted as Portmore's defence, the best in the league, kept their attackers at bay.

Ricardo Cousins wasted a chance to put the league leaders further ahead in the 74th minute but the big Crumbie rushing off his line smothered his shot from eight yards.

Boys' Town's best chance of the half came in the 80th minute when Denzil Watson skied his shot from inside the box after getting a through pass from Renae Lloyd.

Portmore substitute Eric Vernon gifted Boys' Town a goal in time-added, turning a square from the right past his own goalkeeper, Shawn Sawyers.

Across the road at Tivoli, Sporting Central played a high-press game for 90 minutes, constantly beating their rivals to the ball and were rewarded in the 35th minute when wingback Owen Gordon sent a perfect back post square for striker Hughan Gray streaking down the right flank.

The Sporting Central forward gracefully hit the ball on the volley over Edsel Scott, who was caught off his line, drawn from goal by the perfectly weighted square.

Despite falling eight points behind Portmore in the now seemingly over title race, Tivoli coach Desmond Francis said its never over until the fat lady sings.

"I think the players took this team for granted because they qualified as the sixth-placed team but no team is easy in this round," he said.

Tivoli's chances, he said, are still alive.

"It's football and anything can happen," Francis added.

Portmore United's Michael Binns (right) holds on to Renae Lloyd of Boys' Town during a National Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive yesterday. Portmore won 2-1. - Ian Allen