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Swaby saves Sporting's blushes in ill-tempered clash

Published:Monday | December 13, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Boys' Town's Romando Johnson tries to break away from Sporting Central's Renior Elliot during the Digicel Premier League match at Brancourt yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Photographer
Sporting Central Academy's Gary McIntosh reacts to a rough tackle from behind by Asrick Samuels of Boys' Town, during the Digicel Premier League football game at Brancourt, Clarendon, yesterday. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. - Ian Allen/Photographer
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Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Despite inexplicably entering the game as a substitute, François Swaby continued his dream season when he scored his ninth goal to stay ahead on the Digicel Premier League goalscoring charts, while helping Sporting eke out a 1-1 draw with visitors Boys' Town at Brancourt yesterday.

Fans initially thought he was carrying a niggling injury as he sat on the bench for an hour, while his side failed to find their usual rhythm. But once he came on as a double change with Levaughn Williams, his immediate transforming effect showed that tactically the coaching staff may have got it horribly wrong.

In fact, the two played the role of provider and finisher on an afternoon where opportunities to score were far and few.

In the end, Swaby's goal in the 82nd minute earned the point which lifted Sporting to 27 points, continuing their purple patch in the second round which has seen them mine 15 points in seven games.

Losing streak

Andrew Price, Boys' Town's coach, welcomed the point made possible by substitute Joel Williams' goal in the 84th minute and which snapped a three-game losing streak. A relieved looking Price intimated that his side, which continues to clutch third place on 28, is still not out of the woods as far as form is concerned.

"We know we are not playing well, but we have to fight to get out of this rut. We don't have much rest as we have Harbour View on Wednesday and we have to get ourselves ready again to fight."

The game itself was not as pleasant to the eye as fans here have grown accustomed, given the home team's penchant for free passing and movement. There were precious few chances to score in a game characterised by tight marking, creating the perfect scenario for a battle of attrition in midfield.

The result was sometimes bruising tackles and a contentious atmosphere made worse by the seeming indecisiveness of referee Oniel Clayton.

Both teams came close to losing a player each to the dreaded red card and in the end might have been lucky to only have collected two cautions each.

Quite interestingly, both goals came in identical scenarios where goalkeepers Philmore Crumbie for Boys' Town and Andre Blake for Sporting spilled shots fired at the near post.