Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Waterhouse's Roger Rodney soars above a Boys' Town player during their Cash Plus Premier League match at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - Ricardo Makyn

MID-TABLE teams yesterday failed to capitalise on the absence of the league leaders, leaving the top three positions unchanged in the Cash Plus Premier League.

Sporting Central of Clarendon, who ended the game with nine men, celebrated their first home match at Brancourt with a 2-0 whipping of Tivoli Gardens to join the Kingston side on nine points, the same as Waterhouse, who gave up the lead at home in a 1-1 draw with Boys' Town.

The Red Brigade inched up to 10 points after the away stalemate, one behind Portmore and two off second-placed Harbour View on 12 with leaders Seba United on 13.

The day's other Corporate Area match-up also ended 1-1, Arnett Gardens coming from behind at home to share points with last-place Village.

Arnett slipped a spot on goal difference and are now ninth on eight points, the same as St. Georges, who were beaten 1-2 at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School by Reno.

However, Reno failed to improve from next-to-last with their first win of the season and are on six points, four clear of Village.

Fast and furious

Action at Drewsland between Waterhouse and Boys' Town was fast and furious but the home team only had themselves to blame for not putting away numerous chances.

Weston Forrest headed wide from eight yards in the first half and the usually accurate Jonathan Williams unbelievably booted over the bar from a little further back in the 41st minute.

However, with the second half only 34 seconds old, Forrest made amends when Boys' Town goalie Philmore Crumbie fumbled a high cross from the left outside his six-yard box, leading to a scramble from which the Waterhouse midfielder rifled a shot into goal.

Striker Kirk Ramsay showed good speed to rob a waiting Crumbie of a back pass inside the box, but after drifting wide of the bemused 'keeper, rushed his shot and booted the ball into the side netting.

Thankful for another let-off, Boys' Town got their equaliser in the 79th minute when an innocent-looking left-sided corner, taken by Fabian Watkins, eluded all the players in the packed box, including Waterhouse goalie Maurice Evans, and lodged into the back of the homesters' net.

Waterhouse coach, Peruvian Danilo Barriga, was stunned by the many chances his team missed.

"Six, seven opportunities, the goal was clear. I don't know. I am the coach, only human. I can only prepare a team but no goals," he said.

Boys' Town's Andrew Price said his team played better in the second half and also got chances.

"I knew we would get the equaliser," he said. "We didn't get the chances today but we're looking better each week. I will accept a draw any day over a loss," he added.