Adrian Frater, News Editor
WHITMORE
WESTERN BUREAU
FORMER NATIONAL captain and midfield maestro Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore made his return to local football in a thrilling 1-1 draw between MoBay's Seba United and leaders Harbour View on Sunday night at Jarrett Park, in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
In regards to the performance of Whitmore, who was injected into the game in the last 12 minutes, Seba's astute coach, Heron Grey, said he liked what he saw from the veteran and was hoping that the team will benefit significantly from his vast experience.
"Theodore showed that he still has the qualities that made him the class player he has been over the years, and we are happy to have him back," said Grey of Whitmore, who returned home in January from Britain where he left division one team Tranmere Rovers because he wasn't getting any playing time.
The 34-year-old midfielder joined Rovers from Hull City in May 2004, but struggled to find a place, making 20 starting appearances last season and five as a substitute this season.
Whitmore, a star of Jamaica's historic France '98 World Cup team who scored twice against Japan, had indicated just a couple of weeks ago that he was interested in suiting up for Seba again and continuing to comment on his performance against Harbour View, Grey said.
"You could see the leadership when he joined the midfield and started pushing the team forward."
Seba United grabbed an early second half lead when skipper Norman Foster scored from the penalty spot.
Within two minutes though, Harbour View pulled level, also from the penalty spot when Loxley Thomas made no mistake with his spot kick.
By virtue of the draw, Harbour View remain atop the 12-team standings on 58 points, just a mere two points ahead of Waterhouse who were trailing the league leaders by 15 points at one stage. Seba United, which is now firmly entrenched in mid-table, remained seventh with 33 points.
"It was a very good game as both teams played very well," said Harbour View's coach Donavan Hayles. "Although we would have loved to have won the game, we are not too disappointed as we thought the 1-1 scoreline was a true reflection of the game."
Grey thought his injury-plagued Seba team did well enough to have taken maximum points.
"After we took the lead we should have consolidated, but unfortunately we gave up the penalty from which the Harbour View team equalised. We need to convert more of our good performances into winning results," Grey stated.
In what was a keenly contested game, both teams demonstrated solid offensive skills in the first half, but a combination of faulty finishing, in a few instances and solid defending on other occasions kept them off the scoresheet.
Seven minutes into the second half Seba United sent the home crowd into wild celebrations when the referee spotted an infringement in the Harbour View defence and ruled penalty. Foster's perfect kick gave goalkeeper Leighton Murray no chance, making the score 1-0.
Before the Seba celebration had died down, Harbour View struck back in the 55th minute after Richard West was impeded in the box and the referee pointed to the dreaded penalty spot. Thomas' well-placed grounder flashed past goalkeeper Alrick Henry, making the final score 1-1.
