CATHERINE HALL, St James — Waterhouse FC overtook defending champions Portmore United and jumped into second place in the Red Stripe Premier League after a 2-1 win over Montego Bay United in a third-round game on Thursday night at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, cutting Harbour View’s lead to 11 points in the process.

In extending their run without a loss to eight games, Waterhouse, who finished with 10 players after Jason Watson picked up his second yellow card in the second half, improved to 50 points, two more than the badly stumbling Portmore United, while Montego Bay United slipped out of the top-six and are in seventh place on 41 points, one behind Tivoli Gardens.

In a contentious game that begged for control at times, goals from Andre Clennon (ninth minute) and Jermaine Anderson’s league-leading 17th goal in the 52nd minute from the penalty spot for a 2-0 lead.

Leon Irving, who had committed the foul that led to the awarding of the penalty kick by referee Dwight Royal, pulled one back for MBU late in the game, but the home team failed to capitalise on several scoring chances later and extended their winless run to six games.

Waterhouse’s Junior Francis was happy for the points, and while admitting that the game was not as attractive as they would have liked, was thankful for the result.

“It was not a pretty game, it was physical throughout and we did not get to play the passing game we usually do,” he said.

Montego Bay United, who have only scored more than one goal twice in the last 10 outings, looked disjointed, and a defensive breakdown early in the game led to Waterhouse’s opening goal.

Clennon was left unmarked on the left flank and dribbled directly into the MBU defence before a defender could get to him, and while Jacomeno Barrett was able to block the first shot, the opposing player collected the rebound and fired into the goal.

MBU had chances to equalise, but Winston Wilkinson’s glancing header in the 20th minute was just wide of the Waterhouse goal. In the 39th-minute a low hard free kick from Fabian McCarthy was blocked by Anderson on the goal line after goalkeeper Richard McCallum went to wrong way.

Anderson, who spent most of the second half arguing with the assistant referee, doubled the Waterhouse lead in the 52nd minute after Irving pushed over Owen Walters just inside his own 18-yard box.

TEAMS:

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Dino Williams, Orlando McBayne (Jermaine Woozencroft 68th), Graeme Green, Ladale Richie, Winston Wilkinson, Leon Irving, Aldaine Grant, Mauracio Gordon (Kemiro James 72nd), Fabian McCarthy, Allan Ottey (Oraine Gaynor 62nd).

Subs not used: Garen Downie, Dwayne Ambusley, John Barrett, Keneil Kirlew

Booked: Gordon (10th), McCarthy (34th), Irving (57th)

Waterhouse FC — Richard McCallum, Rohan Amos, Nicholi Finlayson, Hughan Gray, Owen Walters (Weston Forrest 70th), Hugh Howell, Andre Clennon (Damarley Oliver 84th), Jason Watson, Jermaine Anderson, Damarley Samuels (Troy Reid 60th), Theo Brown.

Subs not used: Gary McIntosh, DeAndre Brown, Juvane Benjamin, Richard Edife

Booked: Gray (37th), Howell (44th), Watson (48th, 79th), Anderson (76th), Clennon (82nd)

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Nicholas Anderson

Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard

Match Commissary: Lorraine Scringer