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Bermuda return with clean sheet

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Bermuda concluded their two-game tour last night a justified draw against their hosts in a friendly international at the National Stadium.

For the second consecutive game the Bermuda team had to call on their defence to hold them up, regroup at the half and return to match their tiring opponents in the second half.

But the player who kept Bermuda in the hunt in the first half was goalkeeper Dwayne Adams who made two miraculous saves to prevent certain goals.

The first came after eight minutes when he was alert to smartly tip over a fierce, 12-yard shot from striker Leroy Minott.

The second was after 40 minutes when midfielder Hector Wright watched in agony as his hard-hit shot from 18 yards was tipped over by the 'keeper.

As was the case in a 2-0 win over professional team Wavers on Friday, Bermuda were forced to play second fiddle throughout the opening 45 minutes. But this time the edge to the home team was not as decisive.

While Jamaica held territorial advantage, the crowd of 2,200 saw Bermuda resort to quick counter-attacks, usually spearheaded by PHC duo Kyle Lightbourne and Sammy Swan with Kenny Thompson and Elliott Jennings involved in some way.

It was Lightbourne who had the first shot on goal for Bermuda, forcing 'keeper Kris DaCosta to dive to smother a bouncing shot from 18 yards.

Bermuda came into the game more in the second half with Kentoine Jennings prominent in the middle, Thompson a workhorse and Voorhees Astwood once again looking supreme at left-back.

Astwood retained that position at Albert Caisey's expense, the tour being a waste for the Boulevard defender who had to miss an international game after being sent off against Norway in Bermuda in February.

Bermuda showed they meant business in the second half when right-back Kevin Grant sent a left-foot drive from 16 yards that went inches wide after 52 minutes.

Then after 60 minutes, Thompson created the opening for Lightbourne to race through the middle but the PHC striker's shot was sensationally blocked by the advancing DaCosta.

Wright and Winston Anglin fired over for Jamaica who were now clearly becoming frustrated with the Bermuda defence, which refused to throw in the towel.

Lightbourne got off Bermuda's last shot after 80 minutes, putting an 18-yarder a few feet over the bar.

Jamaica piled on the pressure during the last 10 minutes but the Bermuda defence remained composed with Leroy Stevens and Shawn Smith again sound as ever down the middle and full-backs Astwood and Grant dominant forces.

"The (Jamaica) national team wasn't as good as Wavers,'' said Bermuda manager Gary Darrell. "We were more into this one for longer periods.

"Again it happened in the second half for us. We need to show the same confidence for the whole game.'' Jamaica: K.DaCosta; A.Hinds, D.Smith, D.Panton, D.Brown; C.Ziade, I.Hamilton, W.Anglin (M.Graham, 65 mins), H.Wright; W.Boyle (L.Davis, 68 mins), L.Minott (L.Taffe, 70 mins).

Bermuda: D.Adams; K.Grant, S.Smith, L.Stevens, V.Astwood; K.Thompson, A.Smith, K.Jennings, E.Jennings (N.Robinson, 66 mins); S.Swan (R.Bascome, 59 mins), K.Lightbourne.

Men of the match: Hector Wright (Jamaica); Dwayne Adams (Bermuda).