By Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterWHEN MORE than one hour of Wray and Nephew National Premier League football had elapsed at the Constant Spring playing field yesterday, the homesters steered defeat in the eye through a mountainous 3-0 lead held by the Dr. Dean Weatherly-coached Village United. But Constant Spring, displaying a 'never-say-die' attitude rallied for a 3-3 tie and might have gone to bed last night thinking they should have pocketed all three points.
FIRST GOAL
Travelling to Constant Spring looking for their first point, last season's semi-finalists Village, wasted no time in making their intentions known. They attacked with purpose and for most of the first half, had the hosts on the ropes before inflicting the first body blow in the 22nd minute through Fabian Dawkins, who latched unto a through ball from Daniel Ricketts and slotted past goalkeeper Andrew Sewell, giving him no chance.
Seven minutes later, Teofore Bennett was on target to make it
2-0 and Bennett made it 3-0 with his second in the 59th minute, a well-placed shot into the far corner.
At this point, Village were truly on fire and 'Spring seemed to be running dry.
PLAYERS EJECTED
However, the 62nd minute would mark the point in the game that turned things around for Constant Spring. Then, both sides were reduced to 10 men after
referee Clive Wright ejected Village's Damion Williams, who was a tower of strength in their midfield, and Spring's Denzil Mitchell, for fighting. The bookings hurt Village more.
An attacking substitution made by Constant Spring paid dividends soon after when Nashaun Allen stole in behind Village's defence and got down low enough to head an Ian Belford cross past Allien Whittaker.
At the 80th minute, Belford demonstrated composure by clinically placing a Garfield Gillespie square past Whittaker to make it
2-3 and three minutes later, Carl Brown got into the perfect position, converting another Gillespie cross this time from the corner flag ensuring that Constant Spring
salvaged a point from the game.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
"I am glad for the point but Constant Spring must be congratulated for never giving up. They brought the spirit into the game. We are just grateful for the one point. We needed it, we needed it and from here we can rebuild and look ahead," Dr. Weatherley said.
Constant Spring's coach Danny Lyn said:
"After the first half, we thought Village were vulnerable. They were coming in with intimidation but we said forget about the intimidation, let the ball do the work and we know that their legs would tire and once that happened we took away the game from them."
