:Photo: Lennox Russell heads home the first ever top flight goal for Barbican FC in their 1-1 draw with Boys Town.
Boys Town FC and Barbican FC played out an exciting 1-1 draw on match day 2 of the Red Stripe Premier League at Collie Smith Drive on Sunday before a packed house. The game attracted many football fans, including media and coaches, who were out in their numbers to witness Barbican playing in their first ever premier league game.
The contest lacked real goal mouth action at the start as both teams battled for midfield supremacy. Barbican settled quicker and took the game to their more fancied opponents but was unable to make territorial advantage count.
As the half wore on Boys Town took control with Marvin Stewart dictating play in midfield, pushing the “rookies” unto the back foot.
In the 35th minute Hugh Evans shot went just over the top and 2 minutes later Chavaney Willis’s shot from distance went straight to the Ashek Taylor in the Barbican goal.
Andre Dawson had two glorious chances to give the home team the lead in the 39th minute. His first effort was well saved by Taylor and the ball rebounded to him off a teammate but his second attempt was straight at the Barbican custodian.
Barbican was squarely on the back foot and unable to get out of their half. However, on one of their rare attacks and totally against the run of play, a floated cross somehow eluded the reach of Kirk Porter in the Boys Town goal and rebounded off the crossbar and the goalkeeper in one sequence. Lennox Russell was on hand to head home the rebound to be the first person ever to score for Barbican in top flight football.
Boys Town had the last shot of the half but Trevin Garnett’s effort was straight at Taylor.
The Red Brigade came out a very purposeful unit at the start of the second half and this time they made the pressure tell. Taylor made a good save to deny the efforts of Andre Dawson but was unable to do anything about the simple tap in that was presented to Garfield Gillespie who made it 1-1 in the 52nd minute.
Barbican could have retaken the lead when another header from Russell brought the best out of Porter on minute 60.
Boys Town right back Xavian Virgo, on his return from Harbour View, had a good game and provided another option going forward for the Andrew Price coached team. On one of his forays down the flank he delivered a pin point cross to Peter Keyes who headed straight into the midriff of Taylor.
With 15 minutes left in the game the home team was presented with the chance to go ahead but Dawson, with the goal at his mercy failed to get off his shot in time and allowed a stranded Taylor to recover and block his shot. Taylor was hurt on the play but his valiant efforts would prove enough to secure a point for his team.
Boys Town was left counting their lucky stars four minutes later when substitute Jahmoy Green struck the upright with Porter beaten all ends up. Barbican created a few more half chances and had the perfect opportunity for a late winner but poor decision making by Juliant Nugent on a Barbican counter attack meant a three versus one opportunity was wasted.
A bemused Andrew Price, coach of Boys Town was left repeating the same sentiments of last season.
“Our finishing let us down again today. We had to use a lot of youngsters as a number of our senior players are out due to a virus. To get a point under these circumstances is not bad and we will just have to keep working hard to climb up the tables.”
Junior Francis was happy to claim a point but felt that his team should have claimed all three points.
“It wasn’t a bad start for us but we wanted to get all three points. I am a little disappointed that we didn’t get the three points but we will satisfy with the point,” he said.
Both teams now have one point but Barbican has played only one game so far while Boys has played two.
In other games played on Sunday, Cavalier SC beat early front runners Sporting Central Academy 1-0 courtesy of a 30th minute strike from Oshane Jenkins.
Tivoli Gardens and Harbour View played out a dour goalless draw on a poor field, while Reno FC finally claimed full points on their return to top flight football when they outscored Humble Lion 3-2 at the Frome Complex.
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