Reggae Youths held by champions Granville United
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Two-time champions Reggae Youths were forced to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against defending champions Granville United in their St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Major League Zone A game played at the UDC field on Sunday.
After back-to-back losses, Granville United were picking up their first point of the season, ending Reggae Youths’ perfect start at two games.
The result left a three-way tie on points for the lead in Zone A as Reggae Youths returned to the top of the tables, on goal-difference, joining Lilliput Rovers and Wadada United, all on seven points.
Wadada United rebounded with a 3-1 win over Bogue FC on Saturday, while Heights FC got their first win of the season, beating Norwood Strikers 4-1 at Albion on Sunday.
At the UDC Field on Sunday, Granville United played their best game of the young season and, despite creating a handful of scoring chances in the first half, had to settle for a draw against Reggae Youths.
Amaro Robinson had two gilt-edged chances to give Granville United the lead in the first half but dragged both chances from just outside the six-yard box wide.
Ajani Clarke eventually gave Granville United the lead when he scrambled a ball across the goal line from a goal mouth melee in the 51st minute after Reggae Youths failed to get the ball away.
Sabastian Robinson equalised in the 58th minute when he headed a corner past the Granville United goalkeeper Oneil Pringle, as they settled for a point and kept their unbeaten record intact.
A day earlier, Wadada United handed Bogue FC a third-straight loss, winning 3-1, their second win of the season after going winless all of last season.
Anthony Marks gave the former champions an early lead when he capitalised on a disorganised defence and scored from close range in the third minute.
Howard Mair made the score 2-0 when he scored in the 31st minute but Tashwayne Russell gave Bogue FC hope when he scored in the 58th minute.
Ajae Samms, however, restored Wadada United’s two-goal lead when he scored in the 86th minute.
At Albion on Sunday, Anthony Gooden scored a brace to lead Heights FC to a 4-1 win over winless Norwood Strikers and led 3-0 after 30 minutes.
Tareek Shurriah gave Heights FC the lead in the eighth minute, his second goal of the season and Gooden got the first of his double in the 15th minute to make the scores 2-0.
Jevar Maxwell, Heights FC’s top scorer last season, got his first of this campaign when he scored in the 30th minute and Gooden completed his brace in the 51st minute.
Mario Gayle scored a consolation for Norwood Strikers when he pulled one back in the 75th minute but could not prevent his team losing their fourth.