Barbican in yet another stalemate as they draw with Rivoli

Photo: Kemar Beckford celebrates his equalizing goal for Rivoli against Barbican in the Red Stripe Premier League on Sunday, The game ended 1-1

Kemar Beckford’s second-half strike rescued a point for Rivoli United FC as their hot and cold run continued in the Red Stripe Premier League with a fiercely contested 1-1 away draw against Barbican on Sunday as the third round got underway.

Jermaine Parris fired Barbican ahead after 42 minutes with a magnificent turn and volley from the edge of the box after he controlled expertly with his back to goal, but Rivoli leveled when Beckford partnered with Cory Burke in an impressive give and go to tear the Barbican defence to threads before firing home from close range.

With the score tied, Rivoli pressed for the go ahead goal by camping out in their opponents half for long periods. However, if it wasn’t for an outstanding man of the match performance from goalkeeper Ashek Taylor, Barbican could have lost the game easily 4-1.

Parris’s goal was only his fourth for Barbican, but he was unable to inspire a much needed victory to pull his team out of the relegation zone.

Rivoli enjoyed more possession in the opening period but against the run of play, Andrew Christie lofted in a free kick to Parris who took it nicely, evaded his marker and curled a shot into the top corner.

Rivoli started out the game like a city under rebel attack but failed to take their early chances. Star man Corey Burke played through Ross Burton who whipped a dangerous cross in to Kemar Beckford who rattled the Barbican crossbar.

The ball was eventually cleared by Mario MacDonald to Lennox Russell, a former Charlie Smith stand out, who then played through Jermaine Parris, but the midfielder failed to latch on to the end of the pass before Rivoli’s custodian Shannon Bartley.

Seconds later Burke was at the center of the action again slipping through Burton who passed to Bennett and the first time cross found an unmarked Kemar Beckford who fired a one timer in the side netting.

Barbican had no answer to Rivoli’s free flowing potent attack. Twenty minutes into the contest Taylor pulled off a miraculous save from a shot destined for the bottom corner of the goal.

Very little happened at the other end of the field and Shannon Gordon could have done well with a magazine to keep him occupied.

In minute 37 Ross Burton was surprised to find him self behind the Barbican defence facing an advancing Taylor who forced him to lob over the cross bar. Taylor was busy again in minute 40 pushing Kemar Bennett’s thunderbolt shot from 35 yards for a corner.

A relatively quiet Barbican attack sprung to life in minute 42 when Parris was presented with a post Valentine’s Day gift which he accepted graciously. The first half ended 1-0.

Rivoli was fired up again at the resumption just like the start of play. A giveaway by Christie presented Rivoli with a break and Kemar Beckford dispatched Ramone McGregor as if he wasn’t there before whipping a telling cross to the unmarked Burton who fired wide from 15 yards.

After seeing their team miss chance after chance the Rivoli spectators must have felt it was just not their day.

In minute 63 that changed as Burke set up Beckford nicely through a neat give and go for the forward to score his 8th goal of the season.

Barbican’s attack were few and far apart causing the home supporters to argue with the officials and players rather than urging them. Though they played in patches they created a couple of openings that could have earned them all three points.

Both teams made substitution in the second half in an effort to get all three points but muffed their chances. Calvert Fitzgerald was almost hailed as a magician when he introduced Kenny Lee to the field of play and his first touch forced the best out Taylor. Apart from periodic scrappy play the spectators were thoroughly entertained.

It was a fair enough result but a disappointing one for both teams who needed all three points for differing reasons.

Fitzgerald was visibly disappointed with the result and said as much.

“A draw was not good enough today. We created enough opportunities to win the game comfortably but our finishing was a bit off today. We went behind to a good goal but did enough to win this one.

“We still have thirty points to play for but we should have all three points today, he opined.

Marvin Tate, head coach of Barbican was equally frustrated.

“Our midfield did not protect the back four, it was in shambles today. As a result it put pressure a lot of pressure on the defensive unit. It happened in the Reno game and it happened again today,” he lamented.

The result leaves both teams in the same position they started the day. Rivoli remain in 6th position on 33 points while Barbican still prop up the league in 12th position on 21 points.