Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Boys' Town's Andre Wheeler (right) and Village United's Kirk Hendricks tussle for the ball during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League football match at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. The teams played to a 2-2 draw. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BOYS' TOWN squandered a 2-1 lead and a chance to secure three points as they were held by 10-man Village United to an exciting 2-2 draw, in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
Michael Campbell got his first NPL goal of the season, firing in a thunderous left foot shot in the ninth minute to give Boys' Town the lead after an excellent build-up involving Garfield Gillespie and Oneil 'Bigga' Thompson.
Then in the 18 minute, national invitee Thompson doubled the Red Brigade lead as his hard, low shot crept under the body of Allien Whittaker,
a former national youth goalkeeper.
But Omar Allen combined well with Teofore Bennett to reduce the deficit in the 34th minute as Boys' Town went into the break with a deserved 2-1 lead after playing some excellent attacking football.
However, almost immediately after the goal, Village United's Howard Reid was red carded following an altercation with Marvin Morgan.
Playing with 10-men for 55 minutes, the Trelawny-based team basically took control and it was no surprise when substitute Newton Sterling popped up to head home the equalizing goal in the 89th minute.
In fact, the former Real Mona and Constant Spring player who helped the Reggae Boyz to win the Digicel Caribbean Cup title, was a constant aerial threat because of height and in time added on his header, which sailed across the goalmouth but two Village players were unable to convert.
Delroy Delisser, coach of Boys' Town, was a disappointed man saying his team threw away three points.
"We get it from early on and give it away because of some poor marking. We just have to give thanks for the draw at home. Village really run at us but hopefully we'll go by Seba on Wednesday and get a win," said Delisser.
Dr. Dean Weatherly, coach of Village, lamented the fact that his team is a slow starter and hopes to change soon.
On September 25 Village had to come from behind to draw with Seba and on October 2 they did the same against Rivoli.
Said Weatherly: "It says well for our mettle in terms of strength and our never say die attitude. But we need to prevent them from scoring some early goals. That's our problem, we always start out the game flat. It shows that our endurance is very good."
Village now move to 11 points, while Boys' Town have seven with two games in hand.
GOALSHEET
Boys' Town 2
Michael Campbell 9th, Oneil Thompson 18th
Village 2
Omar Allen 34th, Newton Sterling 89th.
