Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

PORTMORE UNITED'S lean start in this season's Wray and Nephew National Premier League continued yesterday. Only this time, they scored a goal to tie the contest against long-travelling team from Trelawny, Village United, in their fourth-round match-up at Ferdie Neita Park.

Carlington Smith, a substitute three minutes before the half-time interval, scored his team's first goal of the season exactly three minutes after to ensure a 1-1 tie that lifted Portmore to three points from four matches.

Yet, had Village made full use of the wide open scoring chances they created in the first half, they certainly would have creamed away all three points. Good for them, and deservedly so, young Omar Allen, wide open almost in line with the right goal post just outside the penalty box, scored one at the 28th minute which lifted his team's tally to four points in as many matches.

Beautiful goal

He took a pass off towering strike partner Jevaughn Sterling and hit a firm, dipping shot from the top of the penalty area that sailed on a clear path almost into the pigeon hole on the other side of the goal. Sheldon Brown, Portmore's goalie, did not move. It was a beautiful goal.

The 48th-minute equaliser by Smith was straightforward, but no less signi-ficant. Its genesis was Adrian Reid's cross from the right flank, which sailed over the defence to an unmarked Smith. The fine-touch player killed the ball perfectly before placing a low shot under tall keeper Leighton Murray.

Portmore, without Onandi Lowe and watched by Kevin Deerr and Chris Dawes just back from abroad and now training with the team, had a good spell and provided some pressure for about the next 10 minutes, when they looked very likely to score again.

Previously, they had controlled possession outside the final third but hardly penetrated a defence well-marshalled by the dreadlocked Jeff Pearce, who played on admirably with a big heart, breaking up almost every Portmore attack after receiving lengthy treatment past the half hour mark for an injury he picked up in a collision.

Village never played as neat but their pacey and direct ball movement made them more dangerous most times, as they continuously fed off the hard-to-mark Sterling who missed as well as set up easy chances for Sheldon Bryan and Allen.

"We have got a result that we have to feel satisfied with on the road," said former national player Cassman Williams, who was in charge of the Village team. "Both teams got chances. We got some clear-cut chances in the first half that we should have buried. I think that would have actually put the game away for us."

Portmore's coach, Paul Young, was desirous of a win but admitted his team is not playing well.

"Today, at times, we were a little bit out of synch, not bad but we weren't fluent, not moving the ball enough and quickly. When we get in the attacking third we are not changing our pace so the game is not flowing the way we want it to," Young said.