W’House grab crucial win in Under-21 League
AN own goal in the 7th minute from Jeffrey Grant carried 10-man Waterhouse to a 1-0 defeated of 10-man Tivoli Gardens in a competitive game in the JFF Under-21 League at Drewsland on Friday.
The win moved Waterhouse into second place in the standings with 51 points — three less than leaders Harbour View, who took their tally to 54 after thumping Boys’ Town 5-0 in another game.
Romario Campbell, Kemar Lawrence, Elton Thompson, Joel Nicholas and McKauly Tulloch were the goalscorers.
Tivoli Gardens, who entered the game on 48 points, along with Waterhouse, and held down second spot by virtue of goal difference, have now slipped to third on the standings.
With both teams fighting for their own survival in a competitive environment, the game developed into to a robust affair which saw referee Tariq Parchment issuing some 11 cards, including two reds, with one each to Kevin Reid of Tivoli on the stroke of full-time and the other to Andeen Jarrett of Waterhouse in
time added.
The only goal in the game came as a result of an early attack on the Tivoli defence by Waterhouse from a right-side corner kick which eluded the Waterhouse forwards, but fell at the feet of skipper Grant in front of goal.
Grant looked to have had enough time to clear it out of harm’s way, but his eagerness seemingly got to him and he blasted a thunderous right-footed shot into his own net.
From then on, the game developed into a real battle for survival, with Tivoli looking the more purposeful, but their forwards just could not get the ball past the goalkeeper Kelso Cousins and when he was out of position they were wide of the mark, especially Kevin Reid, who failed to make good uses of two chances in minutes 68 and 70.
In other games, former champions Portmore United thumped Arnett Gardens 3-0 behind strikes from Tremaine Stewart, Ricardo Webb and Rosario Harriott; Sporting Central blanked Village United 4-0 with Francois Swaby bagging all four goals; St Georges and Humble Lions ended 2-2, while August Town and Rivoli United shared six goals equally.