Title-holders Portmore United flexed their muscles with a convincing 2-0 win over fourth place Tivoli Gardens at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday, extending their lead at the top of the Digicel Premier League (DPL) standings.

In-form striker Roen Nelson was predictably on the scoresheet again, while Ricardo Cousins was the other contributor, as Portmore, who could possibly have won the match by an even bigger margin, made the West Kingston team look an ordinary outfit for most of the fixture.

It was Cousins who opened the scoring for the home team in the 23rd minute, pouncing quickly on a poor clearance by the Tivoli back line to rifle his shot past a fully-stretched Leon Gordon.

Hurried clearance

Steven Morrisey had failed to bring an early cross from Nelson under control, but the hurried clearance from the Tivoli last men went only as far as the boot of Cousins, who patrolled the edge of the area.

Maintaining the lion's share of possession in the second period, Portmore increased the lead in the 54th minute. Nelson, taking charge of a free kick conceded just outside the area, belted a powerful shot just over the wall and past Gordon, who was beaten for pace, diving to his left, by the shot which came from the right of goal.

Nelson could have added another goal to his tally but saw his attempt cleared off the line by Tivoli defender Victor Thompson, after goalkeeper Gordon had charged up the pitch to arrest the progress of the runaway striker but failed to properly clear the ball.

Tivoli forward Navion Boyd also found himself with an open goal to aim at in the first half, but he acrobatically fired his shot wide, after Christopher Jackson's shot to goal had been parried into his path by goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers.

Good play

"Portmore played very well today, our chances were limited and we failed to put away what we had," said Tivoli's assistant coach, Max Straw.

"They got the all-important goal. Maybe if we had got it, it would have been a different game but after they did we were forced to respond," he added.

Portmore coach Linval Dixon, who saw his team, now on 42, move three points clear of second-place Harbour (39), was satisfied with their performance.

"We were looking to come out here and give an impressive showing and the guys really came out and played well today," he said.

"Our aim from the beginning has been to win the league, it's been a while since a team has won back-to-back and that is what we are going for," he added.