Straw hits out at 'terrible' Lynch Park surface

BUFF BAY, Portland:

HUMBLE LION assistant coach, Max Straw, bemoaned the poor state of the playing surface at Lynch Park, following his team's tame draw against home team St Georges Sports Club in Sunday night's Digicel Premier League encounter at the seaside venue in Buff Bay, Portland.

"The playing surface is terrible. The surface is bumpy and it is difficult to play on this type of surface," said Straw.

"We played well but I believe the result might have been different on a much better surface," he reinforced.

It was one of those games in which both teams made decent build-ups, which faltered in the final third.

One of the home team's best opportunities was created by Romeo Parkes who was picked out by Delroy James in the 20th minute near the 18-yard line. Parkes skilfully got by two defenders with utmost ease, but advancing goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, who had an outstanding game, managed to block the striker's effort.

Opportunity

However, Humble Lion, 10th on 34 points, got a better scoring opportunity in the 41st minute when Donovan Davis of St Georges failed to control the ball at the edge of his team's 18-yard box. Humble Lion's Mark Miller, who was lurking nearby, won the ball but his shot cleared the crossbar.

Parkes was substituted in the 63rd minute after picking up what appeared to be a knee injury and was stretchered off.

The striker, who is to take up a contract overseas shortly, was rushed to hospital. The extent of his injury is not yet known.

"We definitely wanted a win," commented Raymond 'Munzy' Gordon, assistant coach at St Georges. "We have to track the teams closest to us and a draw here today has set us back."

In reference to his injured striker, the assistant coach added: "Parkes has been taken to hospital and we are awaiting word as to the extent of his injury. But we just have to take it one game at a time."

The result saw St Georges sinking to the bottom of the 12-team standings on 30 points. They were overtaken by Benfica (31), who beat Arnett Gardens 2-1 at Drax Hall.

Marlon Thomas (62nd) and Omar Walters (90th) scored for the St Ann team. Rohan Reid (75th) netted for ninth-placed Arnett (36).

Also on 36 points are Village United, who hammered Reno 3-0 at the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth. Aldain Grant (42nd, 87th) led the scoring with a double. Leon Irving (84th) added the other goal for the Trelawny team.
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