Hayles elated with Harbour View comeback
Published: Tuesday | September 15, 2009
Boys' Town's Xavian Virgo (back to camera) is congratulated by teammates Fabian Watkins (right) and Shawn McKoy after scoring against Harbour View in their Digicel Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive on Sunday. The game ended 2-2. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.
It is not very often that you see a coach celebrate a draw. That was exactly the case last Sunday with Harbour View coach, Donovan Hayles, who was all smiles after his team came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive.
Down 2-0 at half-time, his team came back in dramatic fashion, thanks to goals from Christopher Harvey and Lovel Palmer.
"We had a decent game overall. I am not 100 per cent pleased with the way we played, as I thought we could have held possession more and pass the ball better," said Hayles, whose team was totally outplayed in the first half by the Red Brigades'.
"But it's a young team and they are learning all the time. I thought they showed real character to come back here as Boys' Town is not an easy place to play," he added.
Taking the lead
Boys Town, who literally camped out in Harbour View's half for most of the first half, took the lead in the 13th via the boots of forward Peter Keyes.
It was a goal to behold. Keyes was on the receiving end of at least a 10-pass build-up, which he creatively back-heeled past a diving Dwayne Miller.
One-nil then became 2-0 13 minutes later when captain Xavian Virgo, fired a cracker from inside the area.
But Harbour View did not go away and, buoyed by an improved second-half performance, they came roaring back into the game.
Harvey first scored a header two minutes after the interval before Palmer, lurking on the edge of the penalty area, side-footed home in the 73rd minute.
Boys' Town coach, Andrew Price, was the opposite of Hayles in terms of expressions.
"Leading 2-0 at half-time we should not have allowed Harbour View back into the game. We didn't play aggressively enough in the second half and it cost us.
"I am very disappointed to have left with one point when we could have had three," said Price, whose charges were playing to a second straight draw in as many starts following a 0-0 draw at Village.
That was exactly the case last Sunday with Harbour View coach, Donovan Hayles, who was all smiles after his team came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Boys' Town at Collie Smith Drive
Boys' Town 2
Peter Keyes 13th
Xavian Virgo 26th
Harbour View 2
Christopher Harvey 47th
Lovel Palmer 73rd