MAY PEN, Clarendon — Francois Swaby’s last-gasp acrobatic equaliser ensured Lenny Hyde left the Effortville Community Centre with his head held high as Sporting Central Academy rallied for a deserved 1-1 draw against Humble Lion yesterday.

Hyde, who spent two seasons at Effortville before joining Sporting early last month, was jeered by the home fans throughout the Red Stripe Premier League contest, but it was their former coach who had the last laugh at the end of what was a evenly contested Clarendon derby.

Wolry Wolfe’s well-taken 30th-minute penalty had given the hosts a 1-0 lead, which they protected quite well until the 84th minute when Swaby settled the game with a wonderful overhead strike.

Both sides had earlier chances to steal all three points, but home ‘keeper Garth Herron exercised great reflexes to keep out Corey Hylton’s rasping drive after his teammates Carlington Smith and Jermaine Christian failed to capitalise on early second half chances.

The result means both sides remained just above the relegation places with Sporting on 29 in eighth and Humble Lion two points behind in 10th.

Both camps thought a draw was a fair reflection of the game.

“Coming to Humble Lion we were looking for a win, but it’s an away game and they players did well to get the equaliser,” Sporting Central assistant coach, Max Straw, said.

“Based on how both teams played I think a draw is a reasonable result,” Humble Lion coach Geoffrey Maxwell said.

TEAMS:

Humble Lion — Garth Herron, Kirk Duckworth, Ricardo Campbell, Ranaldo Christian, Shauntel Mundle, Jermaine Christian, Sean Coleman, Roberto Fletcher (Gregory Morgan 52nd), Mark Miller, Wolry Wolfe, Carlington Smith (Cornelious Henry 67th, Denzil Watson 78th).

Subs not used: Joel Messam, Odain Brown, Andrew Isaacs.

Booked: Sporting Central Academy – Gerald Eastwood, Rupert Murray, Andre Morrison, Linval Lewis, Camaal Reid, Ricardo Thompson, Anthony Bennett (Dwayne Campbell 83rd), Levaughn Williams, Francois Swaby, Keith Kelly (Jamoly Powell 65th), Ashley Marshall (Corey Hylton 65th).

Subs not used: Sanchez Lloyd, Dale Watson, Peter Brown, Owen Gordon.

Booked: Lewis (28th)

Referee: Raymond Bogle

Assistant Referees: Stephen Brown, Damion Williams

Fourth Official: Kevin Morrison Match Commissary: Norman Blair