Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
VILLAGE UNITED, which returned home empty-handed after their three previous visits to Jarrett Park, ended their pointless jinx in the western city on Sunday night when they battled to an exciting 2-2 draw against Seba United in a Wray and Nephew National Premier League game, which was brought forward to facilitate their upcoming tour of the United States.
POINT
"Well, it is nice to finally get a point at Jarrett Park, although we felt we should have won the game," said Village United's coach Dr. Dean Weatherley, whose team lost 1-0 and 3-2 to Wadadah and 4-3 to Seba United in their previous three visits to the park. "Had we played a more consistent game, especially in terms of dealing with the crosses, I am sure we would have won."
By virtue of the point they got from the game, Village United team, which started the game in fifth-place in the 12-team competition on 44 points, joined Tivoli Gardens on 45 points but have inched ahead of them in fourth-place by virtue of a superior goal difference.
The Village team, which led 1-0 at half-time, got their goals through Newton Sterling and Athol Franklin, while Seba United, which jumped into a 2-1 lead midway the second half, got their goals from Howard Reid and Scion McNeish.
DISAPPOINTMENT
Seba, which came into the game in eighth-place on 31 points and gunning to consolidate their position in mid-table, left Jarrett Park a disappointed team as according to coach Heron Grey, the two points they gave up was almost as bad as losing the game.
"This was a game we should have won and I am very disappointed with this result," said Grey. "We played poorly in the first half and things only got better for us when we moved Howard Reid from defence to attack to give us some more offensive power."
After surviving the early onslaught from Seba, Village took the lead in the 23rd minute with a brilliant strike. Edward Campbell waltzed beautifully between two defenders and he sped down the right flank to whip in a cross to Sterling, whose header gave goalkeeper Loxley Reid no chance, making the score 1-0.
In the second half, Seba found the equaliser in the 58th minute when Reid, who was switched from defence to attack, pounced on a lofted free kick from Norman Foster and sent a firm header into the roof of the net, making the score 1-1.
REWARDED
After adding even more power to their attack with the introduction of the speedy Delroy Ellis and the tricky Gregory Williams, Seba United took the lead in the 64th minute.
Another floated free kick by Foster fell perfectly into the path of the overlapping McNeish and his header gave goalkeeper Elvis Hart no chance, making the score 2-1.
However, with their strong determination to break the pointless jinx in Montego Bay, Village kept battling away and were rewarded in the 76th minute. A low right-sided corner kick fell kindly for Franklyn and he calmly slotted out of the reach of goalkeeper Reid, making the final score 2-2.
