Village United……………..1

Moore (69th)

Sporting Central…………..1

Gray (21st)

FALMOUTH, Trelawny – Village United snapped a three-game losing skid in the Digicel Premier League but had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Sporting Central Academy in their second-round game played at the Elliston Wakeland Centre yesterday.

Both teams created several scoring opportunities, but failed to capitalise in front of a small gathering and in windy conditions.

Hughan Gray gave the Clarendon-based team the lead in the first half, while Andre Moore equalised in the second half, as Village snapped a span of 440 minutes since they scored their previous goal in the 79th minute of a 2-1 win over Humble Lions five games ago.

Meanwhile Sporting Central extended their winless streak to nine games.

After an error-filled 90 minutes, both coaches sounded almost identical in their post-game comments, blaming poor finishing for their miserable evening.

Village coach Cassman Williams rued the chances his team missed, but said the injury-ravaged team “showed character and put in great effort today”.

Village were without both defensive stoppers, Cordel Simpson and Ladale Ritchie, along with midfielder Rushane Henry. Also, both first-choice goalkeepers Ryan Cooper and Elvis Hart are out with injuries.

Sportingcoach Donovan Duckie said “while it is always good to get a point on the road”, he was disappointed with the effort of his team, describing it as “not good enough, unacceptable”.

Gray handed Sporting the lead after 22 minutes when a defender slipped while shielding the ball and the former national invitee had time to poke the ball into an unguarded goal with goalkeeper Kemar Llewellyn stranded at the left post.

Sporting should have added a second goal two minutes later after Village United’s Jermaine Henry gave up the ball in his own defensive third allowing Francois Swaby a shot at goal, but Llewellyn was well-placed to block the shot.

A mix-up in the Sporting defence almost gifted Village a goal in the 31st minute when Linval Lewis attempted to head the ball to goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrette who had come off his line and both players could only watch as the ball just missed the left post on its way out.

Village earned the point with a well-taken goal in the 68th minute when Moore headed a free-kick from the right side just over the hands of Barrette and just under the crossbar.

Teams:

Village United – Kemar Llewellyn, Troy Smith, Orlando McBayne, Mouracio Gordon, Ronique Francis, Everett Mullings, Shavar Campbell (Teofore Bennett 63rd), Lance Laing, Andre Moore, Andre Williams (Jeff Pearce 55th), Jermaine Henry (Lavardo Shyrte 69th).

Subs not used: K Wilson, R Thompson, C Brooks, K Hamilton

Booked: Moore (32nd), Laing (61st)

Sporting Central – Jacomeno Barrette, Linval Lewis, Akeem Annakie, Gregory Lewis (Damarly Samuels 71st), Christopher Bonner, Dale Watson, Javaughn Watson (Dwayne Campbell 83rd), Kadian Wynter, Kamaal Reid, Francois Swaby (Cleon Barrette 73rd), Hughan Gray.

Subs not used: J Powell, R Barnes, A Allen, T Huntley

Booked: Swaby (53rd)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Richard Washington, Lloyd Reader

Fourth Official: Gregory Daley

Match Commissioner: Fitzroy Reid

– Paul Reid