Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
PORTMORE UNITED, fresh from conquering the Caribbean, faltered yet again to draw 2-2 at home with Tivoli Gardens in Wray and Nephew National Premier League action yesterday afternoon.
The Ferdie Neita Park was ripe with expectancy and Kevin Deerr gave the hopeful Portmore crowd what they wanted with a strike in the 10th minute.
However, Tivoli reacted brilliantly to going down by a goal, and Horace Howell's 29th-minute effort was just reward.
Then it was Portmore's time to play catch-up as a wonder strike from Craig Stewart gave Tivoli a 2-1 advantage at the 35th minute.
Portmore did manage to close the gap successfully though, as Steve Morrisey scored in the 64th minute.
SQUANDERED MANY CHANCES
In truth, Portmore should never have gone behind as they squandered many chances, even before Deerr's fortunate goal.
"It's just a pity that we are not scoring the chances. Some simple one-on-one chances and we're just not scoring," lamented Portmore's coach Paul Young.
Deerr's fortuitous strike came after Omar Daley received a ball on the left side of the field and unleashed a rasping shot that Tivoli goalkeeper, Leon Gordon, could only tap into his path.
Tivoli's equaliser, if showing some poor defending on Portmore's part, did involve a very good finish from Howell.
He ran on to a ball played between Portmore's central defenders and calmly slotted the ball off the inside right hand post of goalkeeper Dwayne Dwyer.
Dwyer, who was doing duties in the place of injured Shawn Sawyers, was to be beaten again, this time with a pearl of a goal.
Former Harbour View midfielder Stewart picked up a ball played back to him by Jermaine Taylor, who had done well with an overhit cross from Howell on the left side.
With his first touch, Stewart pulled the waist-high pass down with his right foot while getting rid of the defender in front of him and transferring the ball to his left foot.
The left-footed powerhouse that followed beat Dwyer into the roof of the net above his head, before he could make a telling reaction.
Portmore continued to get chances, even after going behind, and in the second half they were justly rewarded with an equaliser.
Morrisey received a good pass from Kemeel Wolfe and pushed the ball past Tivoli captain Kasai Hinds. Outpacing him, he then beat the onrushing Damion Crooks to the ball and coolly chipped the ball over his sliding challenge.
Cursing his team's luck but praising their effort, Tivoli's manager Brian Rose said: "We came from behind and gave up the lead but that's football. The second goal shouldn't have happened but we got a bit complacent and lost focus. I think we played well though," he contended.
GOALSHEET
Portmore United 2
Kevin Deerr (10th), Steve Morrisey (64th)
Tivoli Gardens 2
Horace Howell (29th), Craig Stewart (35th)
