Hosts Portmore United and champions Montego Bay United cancelled each other in a 1-1 result in yesterday’s Red Stripe Premier League match at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Jovan East expertly headed Portmore into the lead on the 20-minute mark, but the visitors drew level through Kashief Brown’s strike in the 26th minute.

In the end, the Portmore coaching staff were left feeling the greater disappointment after a number of missed opportunities, including a wasted effort from substitute Rodian Jennings mere seconds from the end.

The point keeps Montego Bay safe in first place on 39 points from 19 games. Portmore, on 33 points, fall one place to fifth.

While both teams did their best to keep possession and to utilise short passes on a rock-hard surface, the early exchanges held little excitement.

However, the first goal soon came when Montego Bay defender John Barrett cheaply gave up possession to Portmore’s Cleon Pryce.

The Portmore attacker dribbled at opposing defenders the faked a shot before clipping a pass into the box for East to meet with a pinpoint header back across the goal and into the net.

But Montego Bay immediately sought a response at the other end when Keneil Kirlew turned and whipped a low left-footer just past the upright of Eric Edwards’ goal.

And the equaliser did come when Brown sneaked between goalkeeper Edwards and the defence to fire home from inside the six-yard box.

The first half then blossomed into a purposeful contest as both teams went at each other.

East almost capitalised on more lax passing in the Montego Bay defence, but his shot was too tame to beat Jacomeno Barrett in MoBay’s goal.

At the other end, Montego Bay’s Allan Ottey sped through on goal, but fired into the side netting from an acute angle.

The second half began brightly with Pryce breaking down the right, but he did not fire crisply enough to beat the physically imposing Barrett.

There was a lull in activity for the rest of the period as both teams appeared satisfied with sharing the spoils.

But, just before the final whistle, the robust-built Jennings, who entered the game in the 85th minute, had the chance to nick all three points for Portmore.

He fluffed his lines, however, shooting straight at the feet of ‘keeper Barrett when put through on goal after a pass was deflected beyond the defence.

Teams:

Portmore — Eric Edwards, Ricardo Morris, Ewan Grandison, Maalique Foster, Damono Solomon, Andre Dyce, Kareem Manning, Roberto Johnson, Cleon Pryce (Shawayne Nelson 79th), Jovan East (Rodian Jennings 85th), Suelae McCalla.

Subs not used: Kemar Foster, Henrico Ricketts, Damion Binns

Booked: Pryce (61st)

Montego Bay — Jacomeno Barrett, John Barrett, Kevon Lambert, Ladale Richie, Orlando McBayne, Keneil Kirlew, Donavan Carey, Jermaine Woozencroft (Ronaldo Rodney 79th), Dwayne Ambusley, Allan Ottey (Ramone Sibley 85th), Kashief Brown (Jourdain Fletcher 79th).

Subs not used: David Swaby, Nicholas Stewart, Johann Weatherly

Booked: Kirlew (23rd), Ottey (57th)

Referee: Valdin Legister

Assistant referees: Lloyd Reader, Jassett Kerr

Fourth Official: Okeito Nicholson

Match Commissary: Dalton Wint

— Sanjay Myers