Photo: Hydel midfielder Brad Tulley chases after his Camperdown counterpart Tajae Brown during their Group I Manning Cup clash at the Constant Spring field on Wednesday. The game ended 2-2
In the drama filled second game of the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup in Group I, at the Constant Spring Field on Wednesday, Camperdown rallied from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead but somehow allowed Hydel who had been reduced to nine men to get a share of the spoils.
Hydel could have taken the lead from as early as the first minute when a sleepy Camperdown defence was caught flat footed by a long pass into the box, but striker Stephen Barnett failed to make proper contact on the half volley and his shot ended up over by the post office.
Kevin Clarke was presented with a glorious chance for Camperdown but with the whole goal gaping fired wide of the target from the edge of the area.
Nicholas Nelson then missed a chance for Hydel when he met a low, driven corner from Brad Tully with his head but the effort went just wide of the near post.
An open and entertaining game saw Malik Douglas fire a shot to the near post but Gawain Small saved at the second attempt.
Both teams continued to create opportunities before Hydel finally took the lead four minutes before the interval. Kristoffe Samuels went down too early for a shot from Barnett and fumbled the ball. The onrushing Nelson, who was quickest to react, slotted home to give his team a 1-0 half time lead.
The second half response from Camperdown was immediate. Almost from the kickoff, they were level when Clarke fired home.
Hydel’s problems were compounded when their captain Kurt Thomas was given a second yellow for striking Douglas in the stomach.
When Kevin Wright handled the ball inside the box and gave away a penalty to Camperdown it seemed that the game had totally swung in favour of the Stars of the East. But captain Tevin Shaw saw his effort saved by Gawain Small as the scores remained level at 1-1.
With 10 minutes to go it seemed as though Clarke had spared the blushes of his captain as he swept home a cross, at the back post, to make it 2-1 to Camperdown.
Hydel was then reduced to nine players following the ejection of Wright for a second yellow card, again for violent conduct.
But a near identical situation scoring situation as the first half obtained for Hydel, when they scored again with four minutes left on the second half clock. Rodario Edwards reacted quickest to a save from Samuels following a free kick and slotted home to make it 2-2.
The Jeffery Maxwell conditioned team then hung on for a precious point to leave the group precariously poised ahead of the last match day.
As it currently stands, Hydel leads the group with four points, followed by Denham Town with three, Camperdown with two and Innswood without a point, with one set of games left to be played.
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