Bermuda escaped with a well-appreciated point against a better-drilled Jamaica side yesterday at the National Stadium to stay a point clear at the top of Group B in the CONCACAF Zone.

Kentoine Jennings' brilliant 30-yard goal in the 51st minute was cancelled by a header from Paul Davis 17 minutes from the end as Jamaica picked up their second straight draw.

All things considered this was a good result for Bermuda as the Jamaicans looked the better side for long periods. But for a series of saves by teenage goalkeeper Dwayne Adams in the first half, the visitors would have snatched both points.

Bermuda found the Jamaicans, against whom they have drawn their last three meetings, more of a threat than El Salvador. Bermuda's unbeaten home record in this World Cup campaign suddenly looked under serious threat.

"Historically, Bermuda and Jamaica have always been involved in tough matches and this was no exception,'' said Bermuda coach Gary Darrell afterwards.

"We didn't play nearly as well as we did a week ago against El Salvador, we were about half a step slower. They created more clear-cut chances and Adams saved us on a few occasions. We were fortunate not being a goal or two down at half-time. Jamaica seemed to be hungrier than us in the first half and they often beat us to the ball.'' After a 1-1 home draw with Canada last weekend, the Jamaicans desperately needed a victory to take to Toronto next weekend. With two matches still to come against El Salvador they could ill-afford to drop another point and it showed in their approach to the game from the start.

Bermuda wasted a good early chance when midfielder Shawn Smith completely miskicked in front of goal in the sixth minute.

At the other end Jamaica had a good chance in the 12th minute when Adams, unable to pick up the ball from a back-pass, only managed to pass the ball to a Jamaica player and Peter Isaacs followed up to drive a left-foot shot inches over the bar.

After that Jamaica stepped up their game a couple of notches as Hector Wright broke through the Bermuda defence in the 15th minute and drove in a shot from an angle on the right side of the penalty box, which the diving Adams deflected around the far post for the first corner of the match.

Dennis Brown, playing his first full match of the season at sweeper in the absence of Neil Paynter, who failed a late fitness test, was involved in a misunderstanding with Leroy Stevens three minutes later, which nearly proved costly.

Brown was covering Stevens with Davis lurking and when Stevens managed to head the ball back it gave Davis the jump he needed to get away from Brown. Only a good save by the fast-emerging Adams denied Jamaica the opening goal.

Bermuda's resilience was being tested now as the unmarked Davis got his boot to a cross from the left only to see the ball kept out by Adams' left leg.

Adams made one more important save at the end of the half when he hurried out of his area to clear from Davis after a Stevens pass was intercepted on the left side.

"Our talks during the interval centred around them using one striker while we had Dennis, Kentoine and Leroy back,'' said Darrell. "So we decided to move Kentoine more as a midfielder in the second half and it worked with him scoring a superb goal.

The second half was just six minutes old when Jennings scored a sensational second World Cup goal for his country, bettering the smartly taken header he scored in Antigua in June.

A dummy by Shawn Goater outside the Jamaica penalty area allowed the onrushing Jennings to hit a cracking first-time shot from 30 yards that deviated viciously with the helpless Warren Barrett wrong-footed.

Despite their first-half dominance, Jamaica found themselves trailing as Bermuda, spurred on by a noisy National Stadium crowd, started to enjoy a period of dominance as Jamaica lost some of their edge.

A 30-yard free kick by Goater in the 59th minute went just over the bar before Sammy Swan put a volley over the bar from a good position inside the box.

Gradually Jamaica regrouped and only a decisive touch by Adams at the near post prevented Peter Isaac's cross from the left from causing more danger.

Moments later Brown made a decisive interception to end a Jamaica raid.

Jamaica introduced Roderick Reid for Paul Young in the 62nd minute and immediately he boosted the Jamaica attack with some good work down the right side.

Their equaliser finally came in the 73rd minute when Winston Anglin combined with Wright before crossing to the far post where the unmarked Davis headed into an empty net after the gambling Adams missed the cross.

"I thought our equaliser was well worth it,'' said coach Carl Brown. "It was good to see the guys fight back at the end. We should have had at least two in the first half but we missed some very easy chances and the Bermuda goalkeeper did a very good job.

"I thought the Bermuda team played very well. It was good to see them come out fighting in the second half after we had harassed them in the first half.

"I believe we have a good chance of beating Bermuda at home. It's important that we pick up at least one point in Canada next week.'' Added Darrell: "Jamaica were more direct, stronger on the ball and quicker than us for most of the time. I expected a tough match and got it from them, now I expect them to be even tougher at home. Even still, I am happy with the points we have going into our three away matches.'' Bermuda: D.Adams; M.Wade, D.Brown, V.Astwood, K.Jennings, L.Stevens; P.Cann, S.Smith (A.Smith, 85 mins), S.Goater; E.Jennings, S.Swan (P.Clarke, 75 mins).

Subs not used: Carlyle Crockwell; Lloyd Christopher, David Bascome. Jamaica: W.Barrett; B.Gaynor, A.Corbett, D.Smith, D.Brown, W.Anglin, H.Wright, P.Cargill, P.Young (R.Reid, 62 mins), P.Davis, P.Isaacs.

Referee: Alwyn Black (St. Lucia). Linesmen: Floyd Alexander, Augustine Gaspard (both St. Lucia).

Men of the match: Dwayne Adams (Bermuda); Paul Davis (Jamaica).

OH NO -- Paul Davis heads into an empty net to bring Jamaica level after Bermuda goalkeeper Dwayne Adams misjudged Winston Anglin's right-wing cross.