McCook's Pen's Marlon Lindo (left) heads a ball over Kevin Brown during a St Catherine Division One match at the Southborough Primary playing field, in Independence City, Portmore, yesterday. The game ended 1-1. - Anthony Minott

McCook's Pen remained on top of Zone two of the St Catherine Football Association Division One league after a 1-1 draw with Group One team Independence City in inter-zone play at the Southborough playing field yesterday.

McCook's Pen, one of two unbeaten teams in the league, inched to 14 points from eight games, following their fourth away draw of the season. Independence City is way off the pace in Zone one on eight points from six games, behind leaders Portsmouth way in front with 22 points from eight games. Portmore Gardens (16) and Cumberland (15) are second and third, respectively.

McCook's Pen took the lead through the burly Dowen Brown after only four minutes, but Chase Spence equalised in the 18th minute. Spence's volley gave McCook's Pen goalie Esron Buchanan no chance.

Several key players

Aaron Lawrence of McCook's Pen was pleased with the result, bearing in mind the fact that several key players were missing from the team.

"We had some players missing from our starting line-up due to other commitments, so we had to use a makeshift team," he said

"Our game plan was to score two or three goals in the first half and that didn't happen, so, in the second half we had to sit back, especially with the breeze blowing against us. It is our fifth draw of the season, so now we need to start winning some games," he added.

The second half saw Independence City come into their own, but numerous missed chances let McCook's Pen off the hook. Independence City's Kemar Philpotts got one of the best chance of the half, but after combining well with Spence, fired a shot that was blocked by an alert McCook's Pen goalkeeper.

Moments later, Buchanan was again fortunate not to concede, as a shot from Sadikie Hoilett was headed on to the crossbar. Independence City's coach Donald Campbell was not a happy man after the game.

"We missed too many chances and that cost us the three points that we needed today, now we are well off the pace," he said.