AFTER striking just seconds into their Red Stripe Premier League first leg semi-final match against Montego Bay United on Wednesday, Harbour View are clearly the more disappointing of the two teams after battling to a 2-2 at Compound.

With the scheduled 7:00 pm encounter delayed for one hour and 17 minutes because of a power outage, the champions welcomed back their mercurial playmaker Jermaine Hue from a lengthy drugs suspension.

And within seconds of the opening whistle, Damion Harwood slotted home from close range after good work by Brian Brown in the first minute of play.

That advantage was quickly doubled in minute 27 as Harwood nodded home a Xavian Virgo right-sided cross as the Harbour faithful went into a frenzy.

Having looked sharper than their opponents, Harbour View should have increased their lead, but for faulty shooting kept the St James outfit in the game.

Harbour View, boasting a back four that represented Jamaica on different occasions in captain Dicoy Williams, Montrose Phinn, Kemar ‘Taxi’ Lawrence and Virgo, looked solid and unperturbed in their moment of ascendancy.

However, Montego Bay United slowly clawed their way back into the game and pressured Harbour View into conceding an own goal courtesy of Dicoy Williams in the 34th minute.

The likes of Dino Williams, Allan Ottey, Fabian McCarthy, Leslie St Fleur, found their footing and Montego Bay were now well into the game and threatening.

But football can be a cruel game. Just seconds after Harwood failed to score his hat-trick for Harbour View, tamely kicking to goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett, Montego Bay United countered and Dino Williams fired home from just inside the box in the 67th minute to level the score at 2-2, heading back home for Sunday’s second leg at Catherine Hall in St James.

To make matters worse, Harbour View lost their skipper Phinn in time added on for his second bookable offence and will miss the return-leg encounter.

With the tie evenly poised, Harbour View will have been the more disappointing of the two teams squandering a two-goal advantage and will have their hands full come Sunday.

Harbour View assistant coach Andrew Hines believes his team can atone on Sunday.

“It’s play-off time and everybody wants to win so the nature of the games will be more competitive now. We just have to come prepared to play hard,” said Hines.

If it was the EUFA Champions League, Montego Bay United would have had a huge advantage with two away goals, but that rule doesn’t apply in this jurisdiction. Both teams will go into the decider all square.

Dr Dean Weatherly, head coach of Montego Bay United, was more satisfied of the two coaches and has implored the St James fans to turn in their numbers for the second encounter.

“There is always the extra man as I would call it, so we definitely have to implore all the MoBay fans to come out and let their voice be heard,” he said.

Teams

Harbour View — Levor Williams, Kemar Lawrence, Montrose Phinn, Dicoy Williams, Xavean Virgo, Nicholas Beckett, John Ross-Edwards, Jermaine Hue (Damarley Samuels 87th), Joel Senior, Damion Harwood (Ranique Muir 79th), Brian Brown (Donovan Edwards 69th).

Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Christopher Harvey, Keith Kelly, Dejanni Isaacs.

Booked: Phinn 47th, 90th (red)

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Ladale Richie, John Barrett, Leslie St Fleur, Keneil Kirlew, Cordel Simpson, Dwayne Ambusely, Fabian McCarthy, Omar Gordon, Allan Ottey, Dino Williams Kemiro James 88th).

Subs not used: Duvaun Smith, Winston Wilkinson, Orlando McBayne, Maurico Gordon, Leon Irving, Jermaine Woozencraft.

Booked: Ottey (28th), John Barrett (31st).

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant referees: Garnet Page, Omar Mills

Fourth Official: Kevon Morrison

Match Commissary: Charles Barrett.