EFFORTVILLE, Clarendon — Humble Lion and Portmore United did very little to help their cause in staving off relegation from the Digicel Premier League, as the two could only manage a dull 0-0 draw in their mid-week game at the Effortville Community Centre on Wednesday.

Not even the significance of Shawn Sawyers playing his first game against Portmore United — the club that brought to national prominence as a goalkeeper — was enough to inspire an exciting match-up.

Instead, both teams resorted to aggressive football which brought out very few goalscoring opportunities.

In fact, Sawyers’ performance, to many, was the only highlight of the game as the seemingly discarded national goalkeeper did well to thwart the few goalscoring chances created by Portmore.

Early in the first half, he did well to close out Steven Morrissey as he rushed from his line to clear a long ball.

Five minutes into the second half Mario Swaby had perhaps the best chance of the game to give his team a rare victory, but his side-footed effort from about eight yards was held by a diving Sawyers.

Towards, the end of the game, Sawyers again did well, as he was call into action on no less than three occasions after Portmore won consecutive corners in search of that elusive goal.

After the game, Sawyers told reporters it felt different playing against Portmore, after spending 13 years with them, but was happy to have shut them out.

“… Playing against Portmore for the first time… it was a little different (knowing) that I have been there for like 13 years.

“I just went in the game with a mentally like it was training. I didn’t put any added pressure on myself; I just wanted to have a shut-out”, Sawyers said.

Humble Lion’s Christopher Bender said playing without five of his regular starters was always going to be a tough ask. The point took them to 26 — the same as Village United, who had a surprise 3-0 victory over Waterhouse.

“I thought the game was a tight one. We didn’t do well in the final third and the Portmore team is a quality team. I’ve been without six of our starters from the last game due to card accumulation and injuries… I’m not happy with the point, but it’s a work in progress”, said Bender.

Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell was earning his first point since taking over at Portmore (24), but admitted that it wasn’t a great game though he thought his team had the better chances.

“…The problem is that we’re getting the chances, but we’re just not scoring, and that has been the problem with Portmore before I came. But, as the coach, it’s my job to get them to have more confidence in front of goal”, he said.

Humble Lions — Shawn Sawyers, Rohan Williams, Omar Walters (Phillip Peddie 61st), Phillip Fearon, Omando McLeod (Sean Coleman 83rd), Ricardo Campbell, Loxley Thomas (Kimroy Davis 66th), Kirk Duckworth, Roberto Fletcher, Damian Barrett

Subs not used: D Crooks, P Brown, E. Wilkie, O Gordon

Booked: None

Portmore United — Garice McPherson, Anthony Modeste, Andre Darby, Tyrone Sawyers, Adrian Mitchell, Mario Harrison (Michael Binns 49th), Andre Campbell, Mario Swaby, Bryan Baylisss, Steven Morrissey (Gary McIntosh 75th), Roen Nelson (Carlington Smith 63rd).

Subs not used: M Evans, K Bennett, S Mundle, R Cousins

Booked: Sawyers (23rd)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Antonette Williams Fourth Official: Doven Tummings Match Commissary: David Galloway.