By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
A GOAL just before the final whistle from substitute Winston Henry might just be enough to send Mt. Salem to the semi-finals of the National A League as they drew 1-1 with qualifiers Seba United at Jarrett Park in their Zone B game.
The goal which came from a bad mix-up between the Seba defence and goalkeeper Kenrick Picknight snatched a last draw for Mt. Salem.
Axum and Central Link, the other teams who were in with a chance of taking the last semi-final place both lost their games.
Axum were shocked 5-0 at home by Frome who kept their place in the league for next season, while Central Link were edged 1-0 by Bull Bay at Prison Oval.
Mt. Salem has a game in hand against Black Stars but yesterday's draw keeps them in fourth place with a 1.705 average. Bull Bay leads with a 2.5294 average followed by Rivoli with 2.2352 and Seba United 2.1666.
The Jamaica Football Federation will rule on the Black Stars/Mt. Salem game after it was called off the previous Sunday as the visitors complained about the lack of security.
If the game is replayed, Mt. Salem will need only a draw to confirm their place in the top four. A loss however would see Axum advancing instead.
Seba dominated yesterday's game which was played under wet and slippery conditions. However, Seba created a number of chances and should have led by more than the one goal they scored in the first half.
Ten minutes after he saw a goal being called back, Omar Clarke maintained his torrid goalscoring pace when he sent Seba ahead in the 22nd minute.
Clarke who has scored in four of his team's last five games, managed to get a tame header between goalkeeper Garfield Johnson and the right post after a cross from the left side eluded the Mt. Salem defence.
Daniel Ricketts should have doubled the lead in the 29th minute when Norman Foster sent him clear but despite having the time to pick his spot, shot wide of the far left post.
The hardworking Foster kept the scores level two minutes later when he dropped all the way back from his central midfield position to block Socrates Christie inside his own penalty area.
Martin Williams got a good chance to pull the teams level just before half time but he headed Warren McDonald's cross straight to Picknight.
Mt. Salem had another good chance 11 minutes into the second half but a shot from Anthony Mowatt from just inside the penalty area beat the Seba defence but hit the base of the left upright and back into play.
Johnson came up with a good save in the 82nd minute to keep Mt. Salem in the game when he blocked a point blank shot from Dane Richards.
The wily winger had worked his way ahead of two defenders before firing a shot which then dropped in the middle of the area to Ricketts and Jeremy Forbes who both failed to get it past Johnson.
After two wasted chances by McDonald and Jason Rose late in the game, Mt. Salem finally snatched the point and the lifesaver thanks to the efforts of two second half substitutes.
Paul 'Tegat' Davis who came on for Martin Williams and Henry who replaced Oniel Blake, combined to see the ball loop over the confused Seba defence and Picknight and into the back of the goal.
RESULTS
ZONE A
Brazil 3 Maverley/Hughenden 2
Axum 0 Frome 5
Rivoli 1 Rockfort 1
ZONE B
Mt Salem 1 Seba 1
Central Link 0 Bull Bay 1
