Though the draw gave them just one point, they proved many points with their sterling performance. Impressed by their game, the elated crowd gave them a standing ovation.

Undeterred by the fact that the best footballers in the country, IM Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri, Basudeb Mondal, Chima Okerie and Debjit Ghosh were in the opposition, the JCT boys -- most of them in their first major match -- played their hearts out.

Bagan failed to click as a team, as Bagan coach PK Banerjee said: ``There was no co-ordination between strikers Chima Okerie and IM Vijayan.''

JCT, on the other hand, despite being reduced to 10-men, in the later part of the first half, played with purpose.

They grabbed initiative within five minutes of the start and pushed back shaky Bagan. Hardip Gill set the pace in the fifthminute and passed on to a rushing Hardip Sangha, whose weak shot was easily handled by goalkeeper VN Dinesh's arms.

JCT goalkeeper Virender Singh's save was the crucial one when Bagan earned a spot kick in the 44th minute after Deepak Mandal handled the ball in the goal area. Referee Krishna Avtar promptly sent him out. Lack of practice and concentration showed on Chima as his shot was saved by Virender jumping to the right.