STALEMATE
UWI, H’view in hard-fought 2-2 draw in rescheduled fixture
UWI FC...2
Greenland (57th), Henry (60th) Harbour View FC...2
Harvey (53rd), Fraser (87th)
VETERAN Sean Fraser scored in the dying embers as Harbour View FC battled to a 2-2 result against hosts the University of the West Indies (UWI) FC in yesterday’s rescheduled Red Stripe Premier League 9RSPL) match at Mona Bowl.
Christopher Harvey had given Harbour View the lead in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot before Anthony Greenland (57th) and Jerondy Henry (60th) hit back for UWI in quick time.
But Fraser scored in the 87th minute to help salvage a point for the visiting team.
UWI Head Coach Andrew Peart was willing to share the spoils as both teams belatedly began their 2018-19 RSPL season after Sunday’s postponement.
“The game was fairly balanced. I felt like at the end of the first half Harbour View had more opportunities to score though we also created some,” Peart told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview.
“We adjusted in the second half, but we conceded the first goal. The response from our team was magnificent to equalise and then to go ahead. At that point we should just have seen out the game, but unfortunately we conceded three minutes before time,” the UWI coach added.
Harbour View Assistant Coach Fabian Taylor, standing in for Head Coach Ricardo Gardner who is serving a touchline ban, was overall pleased with the draw.
“I feel good we got a point, but I thought we were the better team today in terms of how we played. I think we did a lot of good things in the first half, [and] we kept possession well,” Taylor explained.
“But after we scored the first goal we gave away two soft goals. Nevertheless, it’s a good start for the youngsters,” he continued.
Action was pretty even early; however, Deshane Beckford, who was set up by a neatly floated cross from Dario Stewart, could have drawn first blood but UWI goalkeeper Amal Knight made the save.
At the other end, UWI Patrick Brown struck a volley sweetly at goal, but Harbour View defender Ajeanie Talbott threw his body in the way to deflect the ball over the cross-bar.
Indication that the second half would offer goals came soon after the break, when Henry’s right-footer from close range hit the upright with Harbour View goalkeeper Christian Kluvis beaten.
But it was Harbour View who took the lead, Harvey beating Knight to his left from the spot after Johann Weatherley was taken down inside the UWI box.
Greenland pulled UWI level when he was first to slide the loose ball home after Kluvis saved low to his left.
Henry’s fine, long-range right-footed strike from about 30 yards caught out goalkeeper Kluvis to hand UWI a quickfire lead.
But Harbour View kept hustling late in the game and grabbed a deserved draw when substitute Bebeto Mcdonald danced his way down the left side before setting up Fraser with a goal-mouth tap-in.
Teams:
UWI— Amal Knight, Toneil Mckenzie, Javoy Belnavis, Deighton Stuart, Ryan Miller, Rochane Smith, Patrick Brown, Jerondy Henry (Dawyne Smith 65th), Anthony Greenland (Kemoy Atkinson 80th), Andrae Bernal (Davion Atkinson 65th), Deno Schaffe. subs not used: George Brown, Dravian Williams, Trey Bennett, Stephen Barnett.
Booked: D Smith (89th) Harbour View— Christian Kluvis, Ajeanie Talbott, Nicholas Beckett, Christopher Harvey, Odorland Harding, Dario Stewart, Peter Lee Vassell, Tyreek Magee (Kemar Bennett 65th), Deshane Beckford (Timar Lewis 72nd), Sean Fraser, Johann Weatherley (Bebeto Mcdonald 72nd).
subs not used: William Price, Richard Anderson, Mark Alves, Bryon English.
Booked: None
Referee: Cardella Samuels
assistant Referees: Lloyd Edwards, Kemar Bailey
Fourth Official: Tyrone Robinson match Commissioner: Andrew Payne