Festival of misses - Squandered chances highlight Dunbeholden, Humble Lion clash

Dunbeholden will wonder how they were not able to take advantage of the numerous opportunities they had on goal. Humble Lion will be kicking themselves for letting the golden opportunity they had to win it deep into stoppage time slip. But both team were forced to settle for a point as they played to a goalless draw in their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) encounter at the Royal Lakes Sports Complex yesterday.

The visiting Humble Lion were looking to build on their 1-0 win over struggling Vere United last week, while the home team was hoping to get over their controversial 1-0 loss to Harbour View, where there was debate over whether the ball had crossed the line for the win.

Both teams created chances to establish their will in the first half yesterday. Humble Lion’s Levaughn Williams produced the first shot in anger, but his effort was over the bar. It was then that Dunbeholden managed to get chances themselves. Shaquille Dwyer found Kimoni Bailey, but his one-time effort was easily gathered by Humble Lion’s Dennis Taylor. Nickoy Christian managed to combine with Richard Orrett, but his shot was also easily gathered by Taylor. It would be the pattern for the home team in the first half as they were the aggressors in creating chances, but their shots did not make Taylor uncomfortable.

Dunbeholden assistant coach Andrew Fraser was disappointed that they were not able to turn the many shots they generated into goals.

“We created numerous chances, but, unfortunately, we just didn’t finish,” he said after the game.

Atapharoy Bygrave could have won the game for the home side by himself if his efforts had managed to land either side of the net. Christian found him as the first half progressed with a good pass, but his shot went straight to Taylor, and minutes later, a one-time shot was tamed again by the Humble Lion goalkeeper. He had opportunities for himself in the second half, as well, but wasn’t able to cause problems for Taylor.

Humble Lion registered 11 shots on the day, with only three of them landing on target. Andrew Vanzie had his free kick saved by Giovanni Smith in the first half, and minutes after the start of the second half, Williams had another effort that sailed over the crossbar.

FAIR RESULT

Assistant coach O’Neil Thompson said that the draw was a fair result and credited his team’s ability to keep back-to-back clean sheets.

“We expected a hard game,” he said. “One thing that we improved on, we have back-to-back clean sheets,” he said. “We want to get accustomed to keeping clean sheets on a regular basis. The first half was Dunbeholden’s, the second half was ours. And in the second half, we should have won the game.”

Humble Lion had chances to turn one point into three when Andre Clennon was introduced in the 57 minute for Jason Wright. He made an immediate impression on the game as he had a header saved comfortably by Smith. Clennon was presented a golden opportunity to take the lead again when he was sent through on goal and managed to lift the ball over the onrushing Smith, but instead of his chip sailing into the net, it bounced wide.

Both teams tested each other during the closing stages, but the moment came deep into stoppage time when a pass was sent through a Humble Lion player and his shot beat Smith but banged off the crossbar.