Boys' Town encouraged by draw

Boys' Town FC Coach Andrew Price says that he expects yesterday's 1-1 home draw with leaders Montego Bay United in the Red Stripe Premier League to spur the team on to better performances in 2017.

In a game where first in the table met last placed, Mobay started the stronger team and created more chances in the first half, but Price's side lifted their performance in the second half, after a number of substitutions and changes to the team's formation.

The defending champions took the lead in the 43rd minute when Allan Ottey's free-kick deflected off the Boys' Town wall and into the net, but Shamar Nicholson equalised in the 75th minute, with a header, also off a free-kick. The goal takes his total to nine for the season. It also takes him back to the top of the goal-scorers' table.

Price says he hopes the performance will lift the team's spirit and help it out of the relegation zone.

"We came back in the second half and played with a lot of character and resilience and we really took the game to Montego Bay," Price said. "We found that they were tiring in the last 15 minutes when we were getting stronger.

progress up

That augers well for the future, and it's good that we can close the year without a loss (in this game). Come January, when we begin again, we hope to come with a lot more gusto and more industry, to see if we can progress up the table."

Mobay assistant Dillon Thelwell says his team did not take Boys' Town seriously enough.

"We never played up to standard," he says. "We played good for about 65 minutes. After 65 minutes, it was all Boys' Town. I think we took Boys' Town a bit light today, based on the performance. But coming away here in Kingston and get a point is always going to be a plus for us."

Price says he will also look to add some new players to the team in the January transfer window.

"We don't want to say who they are at the moment but we're quietly optimistic that these players have the qualities that we need to help the team," he says.

Other results on the day saw Maverley-Hughenden and Harbour View drawing 1-1, Humble Lion outscoring Arnett Gardens 3-2, Portmore United beating Tivoli Gardens 2-0 and UWI also getting by Reno 2-0.

Yesterday's Results:

Maverley-Hughenden 1 Harbour View 1

Waterhouse 2 Jamalco 0

Boys Town 1 Montego Bay 1

Humble Lion 3 Arnett Gardens 2

Portmore 2 Tivoli Gardens 0

UWI 2 Reno 0