By Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
Santos defender Adrian Reid (left) heads the ball away from Invaders forward Gregg Taylor during their Premier League playoff match at the Bell-Chung Oval. Taylor scored a second-half penalty to earn a 1-1 come-from-behind draw for Invaders. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer
GREGG TAYLOR's 63rd minute penalty yesterday handed Premier League playoff leaders Invaders a 1-1 draw against Santos, maintaining their one-goal advantage over the Corporate Area team atop the standings.
Richard West netted for Santos in the 25th minute at their Bell-Chung Oval to give the Carlton Dennis-coached side the lead midway the first-half, firing home from inside the box after Fabian Nethersole robbed defender Garfield Jackson and laid off for his striking partner.
SECOND-HALF EQUALISER
Trelawny's Invaders got their second-half equaliser after big defender Delano Francis handled the ball in a goalmouth melee off a corner whipped in by substitute Sheldon Bryan.
Taylor, safely held by Santos marker Adrian Reid for the entire game, made no mistake from the spot, booting high and wide of Andrew Sewell planted on his line.
The draw pushed the unbeaten teams to seven points in the race for two Premiership spots next season with Invaders of Trelawny securing a decent draw on the road ahead of their return match against Star Cosmos next Sunday.
"People have been saying these teams are the best in the league and it proved itself here today," Invaders coach Paul "Tegat" Davis said after the exciting match-up.
"The field was a bit bumpy but it was a well-deserved draw for both teams," he added.
Dennis said his team got complacent after going ahead and paid the price.
"We scored early and laid back," he pointed out. "We weren't taking enough shots at goal and the square...we talked about it. They have taller players."
Invaders not only had taller players but physically stronger and good ball-handlers with captain Ancell McDonald manning midfield well and left-side players Oneil Brown and Gary Stephenson pushing Santos back with good build-ups from inside their half.
However, their attacks were broken up by Francis playing on the right side of defence, cutting off forward Taylor from his midfielders.
Santos settled after 10 minutes with West, Richard Edwards and Kevon Harris combining well. Harris signalled his team's intentions at the 13th, rifling a torrid left-footed free-kick from 30-odd yards, which goalkeeper Nicholas Dixon went low down to his right to parry.
FINE SAVE FROM SEWELL
Both goalkeepers were in form with Sewell pulling off a fine save just after the break with his team ahead 1-0, pushing away a firm volley fired from just outside the area by Taylor.
The Santos goalkeeper was also on spot to deny Invaders a famous win eight minutes from time, standing his ground to collect Taylor's firm header on goal.
Santos next play Los Perfectos Sunday, travelling to Brooks Park, Manchester, looking for a second win against the Central Confed team, which they blanked 2-0 at the Bell-Chung Oval in their first playoff match.
