Clarendon derby ends 1-1

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

The Clarendon derby between hosts Sporting Central Academy and Humble Lion at Brancourt produced a 1-1 draw perhaps appeasing the fans, but still leaving behind lingering worries for either coaching camp.

Kevin Mighty gave Humble Lion the lead in the third minute and Dale Watson equalised for Sporting Central in the 66th.

It was a game where either team's reflections would aptly represent a case of what might have been. For Humble Lion, Coach Lenworth Hyde's accumulation of 12 points from 10 games, is unlikely to cost him his job at this stage. But the latest performance will make it much harder to convince any one that a turnaround that would allow his side to leap frog 11th place, is imminent.

Failure to convert

For Sporting, it's their three-year-old Achilles heel - a failure to convert overwhelming possession and attacking energy into goals. Yesterday, even as the team showed resilience for rallying to find an equaliser, this only came after they gained a one-man advantage, when Humble Lion lost Sean Coleman after 54 minutes - sent off for a second bookable offence.

The last three encounters between the two have produced draws, hence it was difficult to predict any other result. However, the visitors who came into the game under more pressure to secure full points, got the perfect start when Mighty headed them into the lead in only the third minute of play. Loxley Thomas, could have provided more headache for the home side, when he muffed a sitter from inside the box.

When the second half resumed with their one-goal lead intact, within five minutes, the energetic Roberto Fletcher got two cracks at goal but sadly for Hyde, both flew well over the cross bar.

Coleman's needless challenge would cost Humble Lion dearly, creating a tactical shift, which limited their ability to attack. The home side swarmed them in numbers, and from a corner, defender Dale Watson's shot found its way to the far post and inside for his first ever goal in the Premier League.