Perennial rivals Harbour View and Boys’ Town battled to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the new season of the Red Stripe Premier League at Compound on Sunday.

The visiting Boys’ Town took the lead courtesy of Peter Keyes in the 24th minute following a neat combination with Michael Blygen.

Substitute Jorginho James, who replaced Claudius Blackurn in the 80th minute, pulled Harbour View level from just outside the box with a powerful toe-punch in the 83rd minute.

Overjoyed with his goal, James, the former Kingston College and Wolmer’s Boys player, jumped the perimeter fencing and hugged a lady and was later booked by referee Karl Tyrell for his celebration.

Boy’s Town Coach Andrew Price thought his team’s inexperience cost them three valuable away points.

“This is two points lost. We were in the armchair position with about 20 minutes to go and then our fitness level kicked in and Harbour View began to turn on the pace,” admitted Price.

“For the last 20 minutes we should have uses some experience and play out there, but we have some young players (and) they are still learning the game, they are trying to blend with our more experienced players and this aggregation will get better as the season progresses,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Harbour View coach Ludlow Bernard, though not happy with his team’s performance, was satisfied with a point after staring defeat in the face for most of the game.

“I will take it 1-1. I thought we were unfortunate to go behind just as we were gaining some ascendency in the game and we gave up a goal like that,” said Bernard.

“Defensively we have been having some troubles for quite a while and probably that’s the best that we could get going into the first game,” he noted.

Harbour View had to scuffle their starting team after injury forced out Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison and Rosario Harriott was whisked away on Reggae Boyz duty, while striker McKaullay Tulloch went overseas on Friday.

“We still juggling the team. Unfortunately in the last 24 hours we lost three persons, so we had to put out a make shift team. But we still have strength and depth in the squad,” said Bernard.

Teams:

Harbour View — Mark Bryan, Damarley Oliver, Daminan Anderson, Hugh Evans, Dijahni Isaacs (John Ross-Edwards 60th), Nicholas Beckett, Ranique Muir, Andrew Allen, Kaemmar Daley, Claudius Blackburn (Jorginho James 80th), Mark Miller.

Subs not used: Anthony Marks, Khachief Mills, Odane Samuels, Savon Maxwell, Akeem Smith,

Booked: Allen (30th), Daley (40th), James (85th)

Boy’s Town: Kirk Porter, Kimarley Fray, Pierre McPherson, Rupert Murray, Xavean Virgo, Lennox Cargill (Mitchily Waul 81st), Trevin Garnett, Andre Dawson, Michael Campbell (Shamar Nicholson 75th), Michael Blygen, Peter Keyes.

Subs not used: Leon Goffe, Victor Thompson, Kevon Wilson, Adrian King, Shamar Brown.

Booked: Cargill (65th), Fray (86th), Garnett (90th)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant referees: Garnet Page, Damion Williams

Fourth Official: Jermaine Douglas

Match Commissioner: James Pearson

— Howard Walker