Price livid as Benfica hold Boys' Town to draw

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Benfica stemmed their string of defeats as they came from behind to earn a one-all draw with Boys' Town yesterday in the ultimate set of games, in second-round Digicel Premier League action at Collie Smith Drive.

Boys' Town went ahead courtesy of a strike from Jamiel Hardware in the 24th minute, but Benfica avoided their sixth consecutive defeat when Devon Jackson netted from the penalty spot in the 60th minute.

The home team got off to a very sprightly start and looked likely to score at any given time. They finally capitalised on their early dominance almost midway the half, when Hardware easily tapped in a square by Anthony Bennett from the left flank.

Benfica came close to pulling level before the half-time interval, when Craig Gordon's unchallenged header went inches over the crossbar.

The St Ann-based team came out a more positive unit in the second half as they went in search of the equaliser. They came close in the 59th minute when Carlington Smith forced an acrobatic save out of Boys' Town's custodian, Philmore Crumbie.

However, the Vanie Clarke-coached team was not to be denied as they pulled level at the hour-mark when Jackson calmly dispatched a penalty, which was awarded after Gordon had been fouled in the area by Bennett.

Effort thwarted

Gordon came close to giving Benfica the lead six minutes later as he was played through on goal by Smith, but Crumbie raced off his line to thwart the effort.

The Red Brigade, and in particular Bennett, squandered another glorious opportunity in the 77th minute, after he was superbly picked out in the six-yard box by Hardware, but he somehow managed to head wide.

The result and his team's general play left Boys' Town coach, Andrew Price, livid.

"It was two points given away as I don't think we played with any sort of energy and impetus," Price expressed.

"We weren't clinical in front of the goal, we got numerous opportunities to put away the game and I am very disappointed in my team today," he added.

Given all their internal problems, the Benfica coaching staff was pleased with the point.

"It is not a bad result considering what has happened with the team over the past three or four weeks and we are fairly pleased with the point," Clarke commented.

"I thought the performance showed some character. We weren't up for the fight in the first half, but in the second half we went out there with a bit more fight and a bit more determination and we were unlucky not to get all three points," he surmised.