Dwayne Miller ... helped to ensure a point for Jamaica. - file

ST JOHN'S, Antigua:

Antigua and Barbuda's Benna Boys and the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica played to a 0-0 draw in their CONCACAF Group A semi-final round World Cup qualifying match in St John's last night.

The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, named for the legendary West Indies batsman, was almost packed to the rafters in a sea of gold, the colours of the home team and Jamaica had to soak up a lot of pressure from the Benna Boys who started the game very aggressively.

In the first 15 minutes wave after wave was repelled by the Reggae Boyz defence as Antigua and Barbuda pressed forward. Antigua and Barbuda were constantly dispossessed in the final attacking third as a combination of injudicious plays by the Antiguan and Barbudan forwards and stellar defence by Jamaica saw the Reggae Boyz holding firm.

One of Antigua and Barbuda's best chances came in the 23rd minute when the ball was placed at the feet of striker Peter Byers directly in front of goal but the man who scored against the United States last Friday tapped gently to goalkeeper Dwayne Miller.

Five minutes before half-time Jamaica got their first chance. A beautifully floated cross from Je-Vaughn Watson forced a diving save from Antigua and Barbuda ciustodian Molvin James.

Despite having a dominant first half Antigua and Barbuda started the second half with the same formation they played in the first half, with just one man forward but Jamaica came out pushing more men forward and started brightly, immediately putting the Antigua and Barbuda defence under pressure.

In the 55th minute Jamaica suffered a scare when Antigua and Barbuda's Byers broke free from a sea of green and hit a pass across the Jamaica goal, when a sliding save by Demar Phillips almost put the ball into the back of his own net.

Against the run of play in the 16th minute of the second half Antigua and Barbuda missed another sitter. Tamarley 'Ziggy' Thomas coming down the left flank beat three defenders and crossed to the centre where Randolph "Etty" Burton charging into the six-yard box failed to get a touch.

On the ensuing possession, Jamaica came within a whisker of scoring when Luton Shelton, after beating his marker, hit hard at the Antigua and Barbuda goal only to see the ball crash into the upright. In the 27th minute of the second half, Jamaica after a good build-up saw a cross from Watson cut out by George "Sowha" Dublin the Antigua and Barbuda skipper.