BASED on how August Town and Rivoli United went about their Digicel Premier League match, one could easily have been led to believe that the real contest was to prove which could be the scrappier of the two.

Hence, it came as no surprise that at the sound of the referees' final whistle at UWI Bowl, the score read 0-0.

"We created some opportunities, they created some opportunities. At the end of the game it could have been at 3-3 or 3-2 but it ended up a 0-0 all tie," said August Towns' coach, Calvert Fitzgerald.

He added: "Our first point coming back into the league, I am happy with it. We could have won the game but we could also have lost."

The assessment of rival coach Bradley Stewart was not much different.

He said: "It was not the best of games, scrappy in most parts but that is understandable, the league is in its second week.

"Both teams took some time to settle down but we settled down a little and we got some chances and they got some chances. So if both of you get some chances and nobody scores then we have to be satisfied with the result," Stewart pointed out.

Missed opportunities

The first attempt on goal came for national striker Devon Hodges but his header went harmlessly over the August Town crossbar. That was to be the first of three missed opportunities by Hodges, family to give his team the lead in the first half.

The August Town supporters who braved the rain finally got something to cheer about in the 15th minute when Jermain Simpson got a glorious opportunity to put them one up. Somehow, he managed to place his shot wide with only a teammate for company in the box.

The rest of the half offered very little in terms of excitement.

Sprightly start

The second half saw Rivoli's play becoming more scrappy. August Town had a sprightly start to the half and it did not take long for them to get an attempt on goal through Kemar Cockburn. It was, however, a very tame effort.

August Town then made their first of three substitutions when they pulled out Josemar Campbell and replaced him with Aphas Bernard. None of their substitutions, however, had the desired effect though their number 10, Akeem Thnstead, had a wonderful goalscoring opportunity when he found himself one-on-one with the Rivoli custodian, but only managed to kick straight at him.

Despite August Town having the better of play in the second half, it was their keeper, Devon Haughton, who was forced to pull off the most impressive save of the game when he blocked a shot by Hodges in the 77th minute from point blank range.

"Well, I get couple chances to put my team ahead and never make use of them so I am a bit disappointed," noted Hodges, who sat out the opening round with injury. "I am not a hundred per cent, I just need to work a bit harder and I will get there. My aim is to be the leading goalscorer again, maybe break the record, that is my aim."

August Town 0

Rivoli United 0