LONDON, CMC – Reggae Boy Jonson Clarke-Harris climbed back to the top of the English League One scoring charts with a first-half brace as Darren Ferguson’s triumphant return to Peterborough United as manager continued with a 2-1 home triumph against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Former Jamaica youth international Jevani Brown also scored twice as Exeter City won 2-0 at Milton Keynes Dons in another third-tier match, while Reggae Boy Kasey Palmer and Jamaican Jordon Garrick were also on target for Coventry City and Forest Green Rovers, respectively.
The double from the 28-year-old Clarke-Harris, on 18 and 44 minutes, pushed Peterborough – nicknamed Posh – within two points of the play-off places as John Mousinho tasted defeat as Portsmouth head coach for the first time despite a late rally from his side.
Posh captain Clarke-Harris tapped in a Kwame Poku pass for the opener and then rifled home his 15th league goal of the campaign from the penalty spot after Zak Swanson brought down Ephron Mason-Clark.
Substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, of St Lucian descent, had a 76th-minute effort for Portsmouth ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Hackett-Fairchild was again involved when his cross led to a Nathan Thompson own goal in the 87th minute, but Posh held on.
The 28-year-old Brown, meanwhile, a left-foot specialist, scored in each half as Exeter ran out comfortable winners at struggling MK Dons.
Brown broke the deadlock from the spot eight minutes before half-time, sending goalkeeper Jamie Cumming the wrong way after former Dons frontman Zak Jules brought down Sam Nombe.
The striker doubled his tally in 67 minutes as he latched onto Archie Collins’ deflected pass to fire home his 14th goal of the season.
“Jevani has been brilliant,” Exeter boss Gary Caldwell said. “His return with assists and goals is excellent, and he keeps improving. You expect him to score all the time when he gets in the position.
“I am delighted for him and the team; this is a difficult place to come. When we win games, it is great to celebrate with the supporters. We are all together in the changing room, and that feeling is why we are involved in football.”
Palmer, a 26-year-old midfielder, sealed all three points for Coventry, who ended their five-game winless streak with a comfortable 2-0 home win over struggling Huddersfield Town in the Championship.
Gustavo Hamer gave the Sky Blues a deserved lead after the break when he cut in from the left, played a one-two with Viktor Gyokeres, and then curled in from 18 yards.
Former Huddersfield loanee Palmer made the points safe when he headed home a Gyokeres cross on 71 minutes – his fourth campaign goal.
Garrick, a 24-year-old winger on loan from Swansea City, gave League One basement boys Forest Green Rovers an early lead. Still, Duncan Ferguson was denied a winning start to life as the Gloucestershire club’s new boss, as a dramatic end saw his side slip to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at in-form Shrewsbury Town.
Ferguson, a former Everton favorite who replaced sacked head coach Ian Burchnall earlier in the week, was given the perfect start to his new career when Garrick, who moved from Jamaica to England when he was a child, scored with a stunning strike on 18 minutes – his second goal in four league appearances for the club.
But Forest Green had an elusive victory snatched away from them as two goals in eight minutes of stoppage time – from substitutes Rekeil Pyke and Ryan Bowman – stretched their winless run to nine games.
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