Flackwell Heath striker Gavin James helped St Vincent and the Grenadines draw 2-2 with Guyana in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier.

The 26-year-old flew out last week to join up with the national team for the first time and did enough to warrant a starting place in head coach Cornelius Huggins’ starting line-up for the game, which took place on Wednesday evening.

James, who bagged 38 goals as Heath won the Hellenic Premier last season, started up front before being replaced after 52 minutes of the match at the Arnos Vale stadium.

The Caribbean side trailed Guyana at half-time after Brandon Beresford put the visitors in front with 26 minutes on the clock.

St Vincent, who are number 110 in the FIFA world rankings, hit back four minutes after the restart when Cornelius Stewart, who plays his football for PS Kemi in Finland, scored the equaliser.

Daniel Wilson restored the Golden Jaguars’ lead after 75 minutes before the man who replaced James, Tevin Slater, levelled the scores with six minutes to play.

James, a former graduate of Bucks New University, will hope to feature once again when the second leg is played in Guyana on Sunday.