Village, Portmore battle to draw

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

While Village United were left to rue a spate of missed chances, it was the hard playing surface that was Portmore United's primary concern, as the two teams played to an intriguing 1-1 draw in their Digicel Premier League fixture at Jarrett Park on Sunday night.

In a contest where both teams played well in patches, Village United took a 56th-minute lead through Graeme Green and looked like securing all three points.

However, Mario Swaby pulled Portmore United level in the 85th minute to secure a share of the points.

"We should have been up by at least 3-0 when they (Portmore United) scored, we wasted our chances," said Hopeton Gilchrist, coach of Village United.

"I can't say a draw is a bad result, but today we should have come out of this game with more than a draw."

Portmore, who played a brilliant last 15 minutes, almost stole all three points. In the last minute, veteran striker Roen Nelson, who came on as a late substitute, struck the crossbar after squeezing neatly between two defenders and unleashing a curling shot.

Fair result

"We had a difficult time trying to play our normal game because the playing surface was just too tough for our style of play," said Portmore United's coach, Linval Dixon. "We would have been happier with all three points but, under the circumstances, a draw is a fair result."

Portmore United remains handily place in the top half of the 12-team standings with 21 points, while Village are still hovering just above the relegation zone on 13 points.

It should be interesting to note that in their two games, since switching home venue from Falmouth's Elliston Wakeland Youth Centre to Montego Bay's Jarrett Park, Village United have garnered four points out of a possible six.

The game started with Portmore United creating two quick chances in the fourth and ninth minutes. Steven Morrissey fired wide from close range and Eric Vernan fired a powerful volley over the crossbar.

Midway the half, Village United took control and wasted a glorious chance in the 22nd minute. Green pounced on a perfect cross inside the goal area, but his header flew wide of goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Dino Williams missed another easy chance for Village United when he won possession inside the penalty area, but slotted wide of the goal. The half ended 0-0.

Village United finally came good in the 53rd minute when Green picked up a loose ball just outside the penalty area and drove a fierce grounder past the diving goalkeeper, making the score 1-0.

With running out in the game, Port United introduced some speed into their attack with fleet-footed Nelson, and the tempo immediately changed in their favour. In the 85th minute, a cross from the right flank found Swaby unmarked and his header flashed past the goalkeeper, making the final score 1-1.