Charlemont High and Dinthill Technical played out an exciting 2-2 draw in their Zone K top-of-the-table clash in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup competition at Charlemont High school on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead through Tevin Cheese midway the first half, only for Renardo Brown to pull the home team level as the teams went in locked at 1-1 at half-time.

Dinthill took the lead for a second time through Martin Beech, only for Charlemont to draw level for a second time through Clive Wedderburn and ensure a share of the spoils.

A large and expectant crowd descended on Charlemont High School playing field for the clash between fierce rivals, after the home team had established themselves as daCosta Cup contenders following a string of impressive preseason performances.

With both teams coming into the game on six points following respective back-to-back wins, fans were looking to see if either team could stand out at the top of the zone.

It was Dinthill who settled first and took the game to the hosts, so it was no surprise that they took the lead when Cheese fired home through the legs of a defender and beyond the unsighted Ajaye White in goal in the 23rd minute.

However, the visitors failed to press home their advantage and the home team grew in confidence as they took charge on their home patch.

With the momentum squarely in their favour, Brown found the equaliser in the 38th minute when he controlled inside the box and fired beyond the despairing dive of Ashata Laing from a free kick, to the delight of the boisterous home fans.

Both teams then created chances to take the lead ahead of the half-time break, but failed to make any of them count.

The second half was just as even as the first, with both teams threatening to score on almost every attack in a surprisingly open game.

Beech then scored the goal of the game when he thundered a left-footed half-volley over the hands of White and into the back of the net to restore the lead for Dinthill in the 60th minute.

But Charlemont made it clear they were not going to be embarrassed at home when Wedderburn levelled things just five minutes later.

A lazy leg from a Dinthill defender led to a penalty call and the Charlemont striker calmly put it away, sending White the wrong way in the process.

Dinthill substitute Rushan Parkinson had two clear chances to steal all three points for his school, but fluffed his lines on both occasions. Charlemont, too, were guilty of missing chances late on.

Dinthill coach Xavier Gilbert felt his team needed to be better in defence against quality opposition.

“Both teams gave it a good shot. We got some chances, likewise them, [but] defensively we have to be tighter. Teams like this, we can’t be leading them on two occasions and letting them back in. But credit to them, they played very spirited,” he said.

Both teams remain joint leaders of the zone on seven points each.

— Dwayne Richards

More schoolboy football coverage on Pages 40 & 41