Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer
MANDEVILLE -
A YOUTHFUL Clarendon squad gave the national senior squad a scare yesterday with a gutsy performance to produce a 1-1 draw in the second of two invitational games hosted at Alcoa by the Clarendon Football.
It was suspended Reggae Boy Winston "Fanna" Griffiths who put in a man of the match performance as well as the goal of the afternoon which gave the plucky Clarendon side a 1-0 lead at halftime.
He could easily have scored a hat-trick. He was denied once by the right upright and then by a brilliant save by 'keeper Aaron Lawrence.
However, captain Linval Dixon prevented any chance of an embarrassing loss against a parish XI with a firm header from a corner past goalkeeper Damion Crooks. It was to be the only blemish for Crooks, who was given an extended run after the halftime break, as both technical director Clovis de Oliveira and Wendel Downswell took special notice.
Two other players, Ryan Maxwell (Glenmuir) and Marlon McKenzie, came in for good reviews and appear to be shortlisted, as well as Santos player Kevin Harris who performed well in the opening game featuring a National B Under-20 squad and Hazard.
De Oliviera directed his post-match comments more to an appreciation of the event.
"It was a good game, I was pleased with the performance. We saw some nice players and good football. It was a good training game for all of us," he said.