That PHC won't qualify to defend their Dudley Eve title is probably the least of their concerns.

At least last night's draw at Devonshire Rec. gave them some hope for the long term as they earned their first point since the opening day of the season. But it didn't improve their position one spot off the bottom of the Coca Cola First Division standings.

On this performance the signs must be encouraging as they looked the more likely to snatch all three points after taking a deserved lead in the 31st minute through a Ricky Mallory penalty.

As luck would have it, they conceded the equalier at the most dreaded time...first half injury time when Craig Crichlow equalised.

Veteran defender Mike Dill returned to action almost three years to the day that he suffered serious knee problems in November, 1994 against BAA. He helped bolster a PHC defence that had been letting in goals at an average of almost three a game.

At the other end the front line of Mallory, Kenny Mills and McLee Smith were posing some early problems for Hotels. Mills and Smith, with their speed, were a handful and it wasn't too surprising when the Zebras broke the deadlock.

The penalty came when Quinton Francis brought down Mills on the right side of the penalty area. Captain Mallory placed his spotkick firmly into goalkeeper Stefan Dupres' right bottom corner.

Smith almost doubled the lead minutes later when, after taking a pass from Enwar Hunt and beating two defenders, the speedy youngster, who turned 20 a few days ago, lifted a left-foot effort over the bar from 10 yards.

Hotels' equaliser came when Crichlow netted at the near post after 'keeper Jason Robinson struggled to handle a loss cross from the left.

The game was wide open early in the second half as both teams sought the winner. Crichlow hit a first time shot just past the post after a long ball upfield by Dupres.

Both teams made late substitutions in search of the winner, PHC bringing on Stephen Astwood for Smith and Hotels introducing their only sub, Stephen Gair, for Dion Wainwright.

PHC kept on the pressure but could not find the net, something which almost cost them in the closing minutes when, from a long throw by Diallo Sharrieff, Crichlow had a goalbound shot inside the box deflected away for a corner.

PHC: J.Robinson; R.Lewis, S.Trott, M.Dill, E.Hunt, M.Wade, E.Dowling (S.Smith 64min), B.Anderson, R.Mallory, K.Mills, M.Smith (S.Astwood 80min).

Hotels: S.Dupres; W.Augustus, D.Sharrieff, C.Roberts, C.Sabir, Q.Francis, W.Crockwell, D.Wainwright (S.Gair 80min), M.Dildipp, C.Crichlow, M.Lindsay.

Referee: George O'Brien Men of match: Mark Wade (PHC), Diallo Sharrieff (Hotels) Ham. Parish 4 Prospect 3 Hamilton Parish kept in the thick of the promotion race with a win over Prospect in the opening contest. Pedro Madeiros put Parish in front in the 16th minute before Dwayne Leverock scored the first of his three goals in the 21st minute to equalise.

Corey Hill and his nephew Clevon Hill restored and extended the Parish lead with goals in the 40th and 48th minutes and Leon Raynor made it 4-1 on the hour.

However, complacency set in after that and allowed Prospect to make it close with two more goals when Leverock netted in the 64th and 87th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Between those two goals was an effort from John Richmond which grazed the top of the crossbar.

The third Prospect goal came when Parish goalkeeper Kevin Bean was blown down for taking too long to release the ball. From the freekick near the six yard line, the ball was touched to Leverock who lifted it into the roof of the net.