“We did not win, but the draw is a good result for us on the road,” said coach Dillon Thelwell, as Montego Bay United FC held Harbour View FC to a spirited 0-0 draw on Monday night at the Compound.

Completing the 18th round fixture of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), Montego Bay advanced to 34 points to regain the lead on goal difference (plus 18 goals) ahead of Portmore United FC (plus five goals), with Harbour View on 25 points in fifth place. Defending champions Arnett Gardens are third on 32 points, with Humble Lion in fourth place on 28 points.

Thelwell was elated with the draw and a point: “We knew it would have been a difficult game for us playing away to Harbour View, but coming away with a point, we are more than pleased with the final result.”

Looking at the game, Thelwell thought his players, “started well for the first 15 minutes. However, Harbour View came into their own in the final 15 of the first half, but overall I thought the Montego Bay team gave a good account of themselves.”

The visiting coach must be pleased with the final result as the Harbour View forwards — Rojay Smith and Kevaughn Frater were guilty of impatience in the goal area. It is true that in the second half they took greater care in picking their spots but goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett had those tries covered with good positioning.

On the other hand the defensive industry from Mark Miller, veteran Ian Goodison and Rosario Harriott in both halves served to check the bold attack from especially Ronaldo Rodney who was a constant threat throughout.

Goodison, who still retains some of his old gutsy play from his Olympic Gardens days in the Premier League some 20 years ago, rushed across the Harbour View goal mouth on the stroke of half-time in a desperate bid to make a timely clearance off the line of a ball that was struck towards an empty goal. That was the clearest chance on goal for the entire match with no goalkeeper in sight.