Zeiko Lewis was the star of the show as Young Men’s Social Club held on for a tense draw with Paget Lions at Police Field on Saturday.

Lewis will be hoping to feature for Bermuda against Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica in World Cup qualifiers in the next ten days and his good form gives national coach Michael Findlay a welcome headache as competition for the forward positions heats up

The winger was instrumental in Social Club starting the match positively, with Malique Wilson also able to get into dangerous positions.

Lewis created the first big chance for Social Club as he exhibited quick feet to get past Paget defender Delente Frost. Lewis then picked out Social Club captain Ryan Parris at the back post and he headed square for Josh Hardtman to power a header towards goal. However, Paget goalkeeper Shaquille Bean made an acrobatic save to tip the header over the bar.

Social Club continued to be the more attacking side and Clay Darrell should have made the breakthrough midway through the first half after coming inside and muscling through a few Paget challenges. However, his final touch was heavy and allowed Delray Rawlins to nip in and clear.

Fullback Brighton Swan pulled up with a hamstring injury in the 23rd minute and had to be replaced by Terron Butterfield in the only real setback to an otherwise positive half for Social Club.

Paget could not string enough passes together to sustain any attacking pressure or truly test Social keeper Ryan Evans. Their best attacking moment in the first period fell to Kamau Leverock. His strike from the edge of the box stung the palms of Evans, who smothered the rebound before Omari Tucker could pounce.

Paget utility player Kion Knights made a penetrating run into a dangerous area toward the end of the first half and was fouled by Z’Chai Jennings-Barnett, but the resulting free-kick was comfortably dealt with by Social Club.

Paget made some half-time adjustments, bringing on Tristen Davis to settle the midfield and Michael Tyler Emery to add some pace and dynamism to an otherwise flat attack.

Emery’s introduction gave a comfortable Social Club defence more to do and he could have opened the scoring early in the second half when fellow substitute Davis found him free in the left channel. However, he dragged his effort wide.

Social Club continued to show conviction in the final third and got their reward just before the hour. A corner floated in by Lewis hit the arm of Rawlins as he jumped to head away and referee Clinton Hayward awarded a penalty. Lewis calmly slotted the spot-kick past Bean to give Social Club a deserved lead.

Paget pushed bodies forward as they tried to get back into the game, which largely became a physical battle for possession. Social Club struggled to maintain the ball in their opponent’s half and Paget were able to play around the Social Club press. Substitute Aquino Grant just missed with a low driven effort from inside the area as Paget grew into proceedings.

Lions found the equaliser in the 79th minute after their best period of attacking pressure. They penned Social Club into their own half from a throw and won a corner. Hart whipped the set-piece into the six-yard box and Tyler Emery tapped home through a crowd.

Darrell could have restored the lead for Social Club but he was indecisive when jumping to connect with another precise cross by Lewis. He missed his touch and allowed Paget to clear when he should have headed towards goal.

Scorers

Young Men’s Social Club: Lewis 60 pen

Paget Lions: Emery 79

TEAMS

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): R Evans 6 — B Swan Jr 3 (sub: T Butterfield, 23min 5), Z Jennings-Barnett 5, A Simons 6, J Smith 5 — R Parris 6, J Johnston 6 — Z Lewis 7, J Hardtman 6, M Wilson 5 — C Darrell 5 (sub: G Butterfield, 67 5). Substitutes not used: A Matthews, M Rudo, Q Simmons, K Singh, K Smith. Booked: T Butterfield, J Smith.

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): S Bean 6 — K Simons 5 (sub: A Grant, 77), D Rawlins 5, J Carpenter 6, D Frost 5 — J Stovel 5 (sub: M Tyler Emery, 46 7), A Lee 6 — D Hart 5 (sub: A Butterfield, 85), O Tucker 5 (sub: N Armstrong, 67 5), K Knights 6 — K Leverock 5 (sub: T Davis, 46 6). Substitutes not used: K Richardson. Booked: Frost, Simons, Emery.

Referee: C Hayward