Defending Digicel Premier League football champions Meridian Castrol Youth Milan are finding the early running tough.
On Tuesday night at the National Stadium, Milan drew 0-0 with the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) in the first match of the double-header while Pinelands and KDJ Auto/Gatorade Dayrells Road also played to a goalless draw.
In a rather low-keyed affair, the northern boys found the youthful BDF unit tough to break down. Kenroy Skinner, Ricky Barnes, Dwayne Griffith and their supporting cast pulled everything out of the hat, but the BDF defence, marshalled by the returning Jason Lovell, stood firm as they attained their first clean sheet of the season.
This clean sheet was salvaged by the brilliance of custodian Sahera “Rossi” Duke. Defender Zico Phillips was adjudged to have fouled Barnes in the area by referee Royon Small, who awarded a penalty. Skipper Norman Forde stepped up but was denied by a fine save from Duke, who went to his right to deny Milan the victory and their first goal of the 2012 campaign after they lost their opening match.
To compound Milan’s woes, teenaged wing back Kemar Chase was ejected for his second bookable offence in the 71st minute.
In the feature match, Pinelands and Dayrells Road were looking to rebound from defeats last Sunday. However, neither team threatened the other as both custodians were mere spectators on the night, having to hardly break a sweat.
A 0-0 result justified the quality of the match and the worth of the teams as they offered very little to spectators.
The Premiership continues tonight at the Stadium with Bagatelle opposing Weymouth Wales at 6, followed by a clash between Gall Hill and Mackeson Brittons Hill at 8.
