CLARENDON PARK, Clarendon — Sporting Central Academy (SCA) slipped back into the bottom half of the Digicel Premier League (DPL) despite coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with 10-man Humble Lion in their Clarendon ‘derby’ at Brancourt yesterday.

Kevin Mighty’s glancing header gave Humble Lion a shock 1-0 lead in the third minute, but after more than an hour of toiling, Sporting drew level through a Dale Watson half-volley.

Sporting, therefore, inched to 20 points, but lost sixth place to Benfica FC, who improved to points 21 after rallying from a goal down to clip St George’s SC 2-1 at Drax Hall.

Dever Orgill gave St George’s the lead, but Garfield Reid drew the homesters level from the penalty spot in the 59th minute before Everton Marsh secured Benfica’s first win of the second round in the 76th.

Humble Lion, who were drawing their seventh game, remained in the relegation zone on 13 points, five above St Georges.

In Westmoreland, Peter Keys netted in the 75th to earn Waterhouse a 1-1 draw against Reno FC at Frome. Fabian Blake had given Reno a 68th-minute lead.

At Brancourt, Humble Lion raced into an early lead when Mighty reacted quickest to Roberto Fletcher’s right-sided cross and made no mistake with his glancing header from inside the area.

With a goal to their credit, the visitors’ plan was now clear — get numbers behind the ball and disrupt Sporting’s normal passing game.

But, despite this tactical move, the hosts were able to work themselves into the contest early on and caused a few anxious moments for their guests, as Levaughn Williams forced a good save out of Damion Crooks with an 18-yard grounder, before Camaal Reid came ominously close with a close-range header.

Humble should have raised their stocks a few minutes later, but Loxley Thomas miraculously skied a six-yard effort when it seemed it was harder for him to miss.

They returned for the second half with much urgency and could have put the game beyond Sporting had Fletcher not booted what ought to have been a simple tap-in over the frame.

Just three minutes later, the Effortville outfit was reduced to 10 men following Sean Coleman’s ejection for a second bookable offence.

But, playing with a man short seemed of little concern as they dominated until Watson breached their defence by volleying home Gregory Lewis’ near-post corner.

And with the game now level, both teams opened up, but neither could find the winning goal.