Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
IT TOOK a last-gasp effort by substitute Mikhail Hewitt to secure a 1-1 draw for Wolmer's and a share of the points against Donald Quarrie in their Manning Cup fixture at the Heroes Circle yesterday.
A solid all-round defensive performance by Donald Quarrie seemed to have been enough for them to snatch all three points on the road until Hewitt found the back of the net with an 86th minute free kick.
The goal, at first glance, looked like an attempted cross. This did little to deter the celebration of the spectators however as a loss at home in the season's first fixture had looked likely.
Despite Wolmer's early dominance they were plagued by rushed passes in the final third and inaccuracy in front of goal. It was the visitors who charged ahead in the 19th minute when lackadaisical defending saw a pass in the box played off for Jermaine Fletcher who ran on to strike the ball over the head of Wolmer's goalkeeper Jamie Roberts.
The best efforts of the maroon and gold men, until Hewitt came to the rescue, never seemed to be enough to get back on level terms. Up front several opportunities to equalise were muffed by poor execution and stout Donald Quarrie defending.
Wolmer's coach, Vassell Reynolds, while believing that there could have been better execution on the part of his team, was happy with a draw.
"Overall, I am satisfied with the one point, based on the fact that it's the first match ... it could have been worse. It was not the start that we would have wanted but the early goal by Donald Quarrie disrupted our rhythm," Reynolds said.
Donald Quarrie's coach, Owen Wright, said his team performed commendably despite not taking all three points.
"To be honest, we started our programme late and now we know what we have to do. Frankly, I'm very pleased that we were able to come away from here with a point today," Wright said.