Rohan Williams of Meadhaven United heads the ball, surrounded by teammates (left) striker Leighton Neita and Damion Newton (No. 17), while Kenardo Wilson of Village United is close behind him, during the Digicel Premier League football match at the Constant Spring Football Field yesterday. Village won 1-0. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Newcomers Meadhaven United suffered yet another blow in the Digicel Premier League, going down 1-0 to Village United at the Constant Spring Football Field yesterday.

It was a day of yellow cards and substitutions as the game fuelled high tension with players from both sides squaring off in an intense battle to rise from relegation.

Andre Hickling, Shawn Hunter and striker Keammar Daley led the charge for Meadhaven United, with Kenardo Wilson and Fabian Dawkins doing similarly in offensive duties for Village United.

By the 22nd minute, an unmarked Dawkins fired home a goal from 16 yards to put Village United into the lead.

Less than a minute later, Meadhaven's Daley picked up the game's first yellow card.

Good moves

Upon resumption of the second half, the home team made good moves through Leighton Neita, who got opportunities to level the score twice but both efforts found the side-netting.

His frustration would later boil over and, in the 59th minute, he picked up a yellow card and was substituted one minute later by Kenneil Hyde.

Hickling also found himself on the wrong side of the fence as he picked up a yellow card in the 76th. He was later substituted in the 83rd minute and replaced by Dewayne Williams.

Village United did not escape bookings either and picked up two yellow cards courtesy of Jeff Pearce in the 81st minute and Marrian Grant in the 83rd, for unsporting behaviour.

Meadhaven's coach, Alrick Clarke, stated that he was disappointed with the team's performance.

Flat game

"They didn't rise to the occasion. They were flat in the first half and it was not until the last 15-20 minutes of the second half that we injected two changes that brought them into the game," Clarke said.

Meadhaven remain third from the bottom of the table on 16 points.

"They created many chances but scoring is always a problem. I think they should have gotten at least two goals," Clarke added. "We are in a very difficult position and we have to be thinking very hard about relegation. It's even more tough for us since we have just been promoted into the league. We only have to go back and work hard and hopefully the tide will turn."

Meanwhile, Mervin Whyte, coach of Village United that have now moved to 18 points, stated that the team delivered as expected.

"We came into the game to get the three points and nothing less. From early we decided that we had to compact the middle and then open up and spread it wide and that is exactly how we got our goal. We are satisfied with the result," Whyte said.