CATHERINE HALL, St James — Relegation-threatened Highgate United snatched a precious point after an injury-time equaliser gave them a 2-2 draw against a floundering Montego Bay United in their third-round Red Stripe Premier League game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Montego Bay United, who have won just once in the third round, and were coming off a 2-0 loss to Humble Lion on Sunday, looked well set to beat the St Mary team for the third time this season when they gave up a free kick just outside the area in the 94th minute and Severo Murphy headed the ball past goalkeeper Garen Downie at the far post.

Mouracio Gordon’s early goal had raised hopes that Montego Bay United should at least match the three goals they had scored in their previous two games against Highgate and even Carlos Barrett’s brilliant equaliser was matched by an even better free kick from Fabion McCarthy

The point dropped Montego Bay United to a perilous fifth on 38 points, one more than Waterhouse who had a game in hand, but Highgate were still firmly rooted to the 11th spot on 25 points, four behind Humble Lion who also had a game to play.

After a fairly decent first half, where the teams combined for three goals and lively action, the second half was dull, scrappy and threatened to get out of control.

Referee Valdin Ledgister, who had shown the yellow card once in the first half, brandished it four times in the final 17 minutes of the game — three to Montego Bay United players as the tackles got more desperate and tempers flared.

Highgate were allowed to control the tempo in the second half, a reversal of roles from the Montego Bay United team that got better as the game went on from midway the first round through most of the second round.

TEAMS:

Montego Bay United — Garen Downie, Dwayne Ambusley, Ladale Richie, Mouracio Gordon, Dino Williams, Jermaine Woozencroft (Allan Ottey-74th), Renaldo Rodney (Ramone Brown-76th), Fabion McCarthy, Kemiro James, Cordel Simpson (Winston Wilkinson-63rd), Orlando McBayne.

Subs not used: D Watkins, L Irving, O Gordon, O Braham

Booked: Williams (75th), Gordon (81st), Ambusley (83rd)

Highgate United — Richard Allison (Tafferel Crosdale-69th), Charles Williams, Dwayne Edwards, Kadeen Davis, Christopher Harris (Sheldon Davis-77th), Akien Coley, Shamir (Devonte Francis-88th), Stewart, Jahmika Hutchinson, Severo Murphy, Kwesi Campbell, Carlos Barrett.

Subs not used: R Yorke, Romaine Hamilton, Kevin Williams, Tenniel Riley

Booked: Stewart (43rd), Murphy (73rd)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Nicholas Anderson, Ojay Duhaney

Fourth Official: Nakassa Martin

Match Commissary: Tracey Reid

— Paul Reid