Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Constant Spring's Sheldon Green jumps higher than Boys' Town's Fitzroy Anglin to head the ball during their Red Stripe Champions Cup KO football match at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
IT WAS even-steven at the end of the first leg between Constant Spring and the Red Brigade of Boys' Town as both teams played to a cautious 0-0 stalemate as Red Stripe Champions Cup knockout action continued yesterday at the Constant Spring Sports Complex.
In an affair that seemed to lack energy, Boys' Town had the better of first-half play. Garfield Gillespie struck a splendid 35th minute dipping volley towards goals from about 20 yards out. However, Constant Spring custodian Kirk Williams did just enough to keep the shot out and the scores level.
"In the first half, the teams decided to feel it out. Neither of us were taking any chances, but I think in the second-half we got it going. We should have won, but then the red card put us on the back foot again," was the analysis provided by Constant Spring's technical director Maurice 'Danny' Lyn.
The red card was given to Collin Brown for a second reckless challenge in the 82nd minute. However, the home team had their chances to put the game away even before that, as the best chance fell perhaps to Gaymeon Watkins when Shawn Hunter was brought down just outside the 18-yard area near the 60th minute.
Boys' Town's custodian Kirk Porter, like everyone else in the ground, played the role of spectator as he could only watch the resulting Watkins free-kick crash back into play off the crossbar.
The draw suits Boys' Town's technical director Andrew Price just fine.
MORE CONFIDENCE
"The important thing is that we did not lose this game and they have to come back down to Collie Smith Drive where we are more comfortable. The aim today was not to concede any goals and we achieved that," he said.
In the day's other games, Maverley-Hughenden got by Humble Lion 1-0, Los Perfectos and Bath played to a 1-1 draw, while the Star Cosmos vs Steadfast and Clarks Town vs D.B Basovak ended in 0-0 draws.
The other first-round games that were played late Wednesday night at Jarrett Park-resulted in Seba putting away Montpelier 4-0, and Wadadah fighting from two goals down to tie 2-2 with Tafari Lions.
