Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
NEGRIL FC grabbed pole position with a 1-0 win over August Town while Naggo Head and St George's played to 1-1 draw in their Jamaica Football Federa-tion National Premier League play-offs yesterday.
A 77th-minute free kick by Andre Barrett gave Negril FC an important home win and sent them to the top of the table with three points after one round.
Coach Jerome Waite said it was a difficult game but his team came up big.
"Both teams didn't see each other before so it was a cat and mouse thing," Waite said.
"Both teams missed a few chances, but we came up big," said the former Arnett Gardens coach.
Christopher Bender, coach of August Town, said his team dominated play, but failed to do the important thing of scoring.
"We dominated and could have been 3-0 up by half-time. They got one chance and scored but we have to put that behind us and move on," said Bender.
DROPPED TWO POINTS
Meanwhile, home team Naggo Head dropped two valuable points when they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with St. George's.
Harold Franklyn gave St George's an 11th minute lead, pouncing on a goalkeeping error by Troy Watson to slot home.
Watson misjudged a long-range shot that dipped in front of him and rebounded into the path of Franklyn who made no mistake.
But 11 minutes later, the hard-working Carlos Barrett equalised with a beauty. He cut inside a defender and unleashed a ferocious shot that flew pass goalkeeper Randall Huie and hit the roof of the net.
Harold Thomas, coach of Naggo Head, said his team never played to its potential.
"But it's a young team. It's their first occasion at this level but a talented one when it decides to play. Today we never played the way we can," said Thomas.
Donald Davis, coach of St George's, said: "It's a point away from home but really and truly we should have got three. But we are satisfied - we get one."
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Naggo Head 1
(Carlos Barrett 22nd)
St. George's FC 1
(Harold Franklyn 11th)
Negril FC 1
(Andre Barrett 77th)
August Town 0
