Village United's Cordel Simpson (left) heads a ball over Portmore United's Gary McIntosh during their Digicel Premier League (DPL) match at the Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday. The game ended 0-0. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
When 21-year-old second-string goalie Kemar Llewelyn was introduced into a Digicel Premier League (DPL) game deep inside the opening half at Ferdie Neita Park in Breaton on Sunday, it was a nerve-racking experience for the young man.
Llewelyn, a member of Village's under-21 team, was on the field because starting goalie Ryan Cooper sustained an injury, which forced coach Cassman Williams to pull him from the game.
"At first, I was a bit shaky playing against Portmore United, which is ranked as one of the top teams in the country. However, further down in the game, I became more confident and I made some good saves. We have been training very hard and now it is paying off," the former York Castle student said after his team's gritty 0-0 draw with Portmore United.
He added: "Tonight's (Sunday) performance didn't come as a surprise to me, because Elvis (Hart), an experienced goalkeeper in the squad, Ryan Cooper and I have been working hard in training."
Llewelyn made at least three saves in the first half and about five more in the second half to keep a clean sheet.
He tipped Wolry Wolfe's blast from 25 yards in the 39th minute, then received help from his defen-der, Ladale Richie, who cleared off the goal line to deny Roen Nelson a goal three minutes from the break.
Llewelyn's heroics aside, Portmore were quite paltry in front of goal, missing numerous opportunities. Substitute Zane Goulbourne got the easiest chance in the second half as he miskicked from six yards.
Trelawny-based Village almost stole three points from Portmore, five minutes from time, when substitute Lavardo White hit Shawn Sawyers' post.
Portmore have dropped into a mini-goal drought as they have not scored in their past two matches.
The draw inched undefeated Portmore to nine points from five games, while Village, also unbeaten in five games, moved to seven points.
"We are very disappointed that we did not score and we got the opportunities," an upset Linval Dixon, coach of Portmore, said after the match.
"It's a nil-all draw. We have to live with it and work on scoring goals."
Village's Cassman Williams was pleased with the point away from home.
"I am pretty pleased with how we played; I think we played an organised game. Both teams played a technical game, a draw away from home. I am satisfied with that result," he said.