After a major gaffe on his home ground that cost the UWI FC all three points against Tivoli Gardens FC last week in the Red Stripe Premier League, Amal Knight returned to being the assured goalkeeper he is known to be with a man-of-the match performance against Portmore United on Sunday.

His display between the sticks against the defending champions helped UWI FC earn a point and snap the three-game winning streak of the Shavar Thomas-coached team.

With the score locked at 1-1 in the second half, a couple of blinders by Knight proved crucial in the Mona-based team leaving the Spanish Town Prison Oval with something to show for their overall efforts.

The draw sees the UWI remain in fifth place in the league on 11 points, three points and four places behind Portmore who continue to lead with 14 points after seven games.

Knight was happy to atone for his mistake made a week ago as he recognised the importance of his team maintaining a place in the top six, even at this early stage of the season.

“I feel pretty good knowing that last week it was my second game back and I made a blunder that cost us three points, so coming here today I knew that I had to play a big game. We were playing the defending champions and the current league leaders so my performance was pretty good and I am really pleased with how we played and as a unit I think we did well as well,” he said.

He also explained that the minimum target set by the team ahead of the game was met.

“We said that we have to leave the venue with at least a point, we wanted it to be three, but we got one so we are thankful for that. It keeps up with the pace of the pack and hopefully next week we can get a result because we are at home next week,” Knight added.

Knight has been a part of the national set-up for a while now and believes the extended run as a part of the Reggae Boyz has helped his game significantly.

“Being in the national set-up and getting games under my belt against high opposition, I think has really helped me with confidence, but at the end of the day you don’t want to be overconfident and I think I am where I need to be right now.

“I think in terms of games and preparation for the Premier League I think I am where I need to be and I am really pleased with my progress from January up till now in the national set-up. I think that has really helped me I am just hoping to go forward and progress as well in the national set-up.”

The former Wolmer’s Boys’ Manning Cup standout believes that the national team has the right man at the helm and is on the right path to success at the moment.

“I think we are doing pretty well. I think the core group is doing pretty well and there are more players that can come into the group because there are players in the USL (United Soccer League) and in Europe dominating as well, so I think the group is pretty good.

“The Nations League that we are preparing for right now is preparation for World Cup qualifiers as well and I think we are doing pretty well and the coach is doing an excellent job in my view and I think going forward it can only get better,” Knight noted.

He also had high praises for the Reggae Girlz and their recent successes and can’t wait to see them in action at the Fifa World Cup in France next year.

“I am extremely proud of them knowing that they didn’t get the backing that they should have been getting. I am really proud of them that they have achieved a historic feat in reaching the World Cup for the first time, a Caribbean team actually reaching the World Cup for the first time, so I am pretty pleased with that.

“Hopefully they can go there and do well, you see that they won 3-0 this morning (Sunday) against Nottingham Forrest Ladies, so I think they are going forward in the right direction and I am really happy and I am looking forward or seeing them next year in the World Cup,” Knight ended.

UWI FC will be looking to establish some amount of consistency after a win, a loss and a draw in their last three outings.