Christian's conversion brings hope for Lion

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Clarendon teams Humble Lion and Sporting Central Academy secured a goal each in a 1-1 draw, in their Digicel Premier League derby.

It was the visitors from Brancourt who drew first blood through Francois Swaby's 24th-minutepenalty. Humble Lion's equaliser came 20 minutes into the second half from a freak strike from Jermaine Christian, who donned Sporting's jersey the previous season.

Christian, who had replaced former national youth star, Winston Griffiths, after the former Glenmuir stand-out was forced to be substituted after 20 minutes, had a fearsome drive from 25 yards ricochet off a crowd of Sporting defenders, giving their goalkeeper no chance to save. The goal appeared to mean so much for Christian and his coach that he ran to the touchline to fully embrace Christopher Bender in contrived joy for all to see.

The goal had come a mere three minutes after Recardo Campbell was sent off for a second yellow. It also proved to be vindication for Bender, who was heckled openly by fans for introducing Omar Walters after sacrificing a seeming favourite, Christopher Henry.

Bender, whose team lies second from bottom in the 12-team standings, stayed away from any talk about his future, but felt the goal mirrowed what needed to happen for his team to change fortunes.

"Attitude... and luck.," he flashed when asked what had made the difference. "We needed our luck to change, but the players displayed a much better attitude in the second half, and that's why we came back."

Dominance

The goals in either half bore the face of either team's dominance. Having failed to notch a point in three games, Humble Lion needed to assert themselves early, especially with strong rumours that the coach's job was on the line.

Humble Lion actually had the better of the opening exchanges, with their dreadlocked pair of strikers Denzil Watson and Kevin Mighty getting off speculative shots from just inside the 18-yard area.

However, Sporting always looked dangerous on the counter attack. Gary McIntosh, after failing to properly volley home a good cross from Hughan Gray for the game's best chance after eight minutes, made ammends two minutes later.

Kadian Wynter sent him clear, and despite being tugged by Recardo Campbell, he managed to muscle his way into the penalty area before carving a shot past Sawyers in goal.

That goal was, however, disallowed and instead referee Raymond Bogle incorrectly called for a penalty, as the alleged offence created by Campbell's tugging had happened well outside the 18-yard box. Despite the error, Swaby made no mistake from the spot.

Standings

TeamsPWDLGFGAGDPTSTivoli43018269Portmore43017349Waterhouse43017349Boys'
Town43016339Arnett421145-17Reno42025236H
View42024406Benfica420258-36Sporting41125504Village411249-54Humble
Lion401315-41St Georges4004411-70