Barbican FC came from behind to beat Axum FC 2-1 at the Barbican Complex in yesterday’s third round of matches in the Jamaica Football Federation All-island Confederation Play-offs.

Shavon Charlton was the hero with a last-gasp winner in the 90th minute of play.

Earlier, Axum took an 11th-minute lead after Barbican’s captain Shawn Lawes gave up an own goal.

Barbican bounced back before the half-time break, equalising in minute 41 through Shaquille Lewis.

Denton Shedden, the winning coach, said his players were “stronger and looked fitter in the second half” and the “pressure took its toll” on the St Mary-based Axum.

Marvin Bahardosingh, the manager of Axum, rued Oshane Dunkley missing a penalty kick when the score was 1-1 with approximately 15 minutes remaining.

“We were supposed to get three points from this game. We got the penalty to capitalise on and we missed it,” he said.  

In the other play-off clash at the Frome Sports Complex, Reno FC’s Craig Foster scored twice — bringing his play-off tally to five goals — in his team’s 3-0 win over Jamalco FC.   

Reno and Barbican have six points each, but the latter trail due to an inferior goal difference.

Jamalco are third on four points, while Axum have only a point.

The top-two teams at the end of this home-and-away round-robin competition qualify for top-flight football next season.

In yesterday’s game at Barbican, the visitors took the lead when Lawes inadvertently deflected a wayward shot into his own net.

Barbican, who had also gone behind in last week’s win over Reno, slowly worked their way back into the encounter on a coarse, bumpy playing surface.

They levelled the score four minutes before the break when Axum goalkeeper Randal Hui found himself stranded after punching a clearance and Lewis was on hand to kick home from the edge of the box.

Early in the second half, Barbican turned the screws and Akino Bailey was unfortunate after toe-poking a grounded shot onto the left upright of Axum’s goal.

Axum later got a gifted chance when Dunkley was fouled in the 18-yard box after Barbican’s goalkeeper Nicholas Campbell tamely lost possession. But to the dismay of visiting fans, Dunkley kicked his effort well wide of goal.With time running out, Charlton banged home sweetly from the edge of the box for the 2-1 victory after a neat exchange of passes between Lewis and Jermaine Parris.