Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Meadhaven United defender Roger Rodney (right) moves away from Sporting Central forward Alonzo Adlam during their Digicel Premier League encounter at the Drewsland Sports Complex yesterday. The match ended 2-2. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

AN INJURY-TIME goal by Hughan Gray earned Sporting Central Academy a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against newcomers Meadhaven United at the Drewsland Sports Complex yesterday.

In an evenly contested match-up, Meadhaven got their goals through Weston Forrest, in the 43rd minute, and Andre Hickling, in the 82nd, while Sporting Central got theirs through a 68th-minute penalty from Alonzo Adlam and Gray's 90th-minute effort.

Meadhaven took the lead through Forrest who, given space to shoot, fired a left-footer which lodged in the base of the net, much to the surprise of Sporting Central custodian Erron Brown.

Periods of dominance

With a 1-0 half-time lead, Meadhaven, led by skilful forward Keammar Daley, enjoyed periods of dominance throughout the early part of the second half, however, were unable to convert that into goals and they were then pegged back by the Clarendonians, courtesy of Adlam's penalty.

This, however, did not deter the ambitions of Meadhaven, who were hoping to make full use of their first home game, after playing to a creditable 1-1 with Tivoli Gardens in their opening game and, in the 82 minute, were put back on track by Hickling.

But, lo and behold, Sporting Central, who registered a win their opener against Reno, did not play dead and, thanks to a fine run by the impressive Adlam, who left at least three defenders in his wake, they were able to snatch draw through Gray.

Alrick Clarke, coach of Meadhaven, said the game was a tough one, but his team should have won.

Defence error

"It was a very hard-fought game, but we should have taken all three points. Where we went wrong was that we started to play defensive in the last part of the game and that cost us," Clarke said.

Meanwhile, it was an acceptable result for Sporting Central coach Chris Dawes who said while he wanted to win, he was OK with the draw.

"We wanted to win, but we will settle for a draw," Dawes said.