Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Harbour View were forced to dig deep to keep their unbeaten record intact yesterday afternoon, as it took a late strike by substitute Marcelino Blackburn to earn them a 1-1 draw against Reno in the Digicel Premier League fixture at Frome in Westmoreland.

In a most exciting contest, the Reno team, which was returning to Frome for the first time in two years, took a 43rd-minute lead courtesy of a brilliant free kick by skipper Nicholy Findlayson.

However, with 10 minutes to go, Blackburn pulled back a goal for Harbour View with a neat, close range effort.

By virtue of the point gained from the game, Harbour View moved to 11 points. Reno, winless after three games, sit in the lower half of the standings with three points.

Let down

"We let ourselves down badly today as, after taking the lead with such a brilliant goal, we ended up giving up a soft goal to bring back Harbour View in the game," said Reno's technical director, Wendell Downswell. "We need to work on our concentration because this is the third time we have led and then given up the lead."

For Harbour View's coach, Brazillian Waldemar de Oliveira, he was satisfied with the 1-1 result as, according to him, the rain that fell throughout the game did not suit the style of his team.

"It was difficult to play under these conditions so we are satisfied with the result," said de Oliveira. "The team showed a lot of character in fighting back to get a draw."

After a somewhat tentative start, in which the teams took quite some time to settle down, Reno just missed taking the lead in the fifth minute when Obrian Woodbine sliced a perfect pass to Davion Thorpe before goal, but he fired just wide.

Harbour View wasted a glorious chance in the 35th minute when Jermaine Hue broke out of midfield, but his powerful low shot was well held by goalkeeper Dennis Taylor.

Taking the lead

With time clearly in their favour, Reno took the lead in the 42nd minute when they won a free kick 30 yards from goal. The kick by Findlayson curled past the 'wall', struck the underside of the crossbar and rebounded into the goal, making the half-time score 1-0.

A minute into the second half, Harbour View squandered a glorius chance to draw level. Hue got away before the goal but his shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper, who collected safely on the second attempt.

Twelve minutes into the half, Harbour View made three substitutions at once, bringing in Kemeel Wolfe, Blackburn and Rafiek Thomas. Within six minutes, the move all but paid off when Thomas got away before the goal but his shot deflected from a defender and flew wide.

With time running out in the game and action swinging from end to end, Harbour View got the all-important equaliser in the 80th minute. Blackburn worked his way between two defenders and fired past goalkeeper Taylor, making the final score 1-1.