WATERHOUSE extended their lead in the closing phase of the Red Stripe Premier League by defeating Boys’ Town 1-0 at Collie Smith Drive yesterday.

Right-sided defender Oshane Roberts poked an errant ball through a maze of Boys’ Town defenders’ legs close to the byline to hand Waterhouse their 15th straight game without defeat, inclusive of 11 wins.

The victory also increased the Anthony Patrick-coached team’s chances of taking the $1m prize should they top the standings at the end of the preliminary stage of the competition.

The victory, however, was not one that the winners can be justly proud of. After taking the early lead with a spate of dynamic play Waterhouse gradually faded, as Boys’ Town became aggressive in their play, forcing referee Wilverglen Lamey to issue three yellow cards to the hosts in the first 45 minutes, one for ungentlemanly conduct.

Following the pattern of play introduced by the hosts and having already scored, Waterhouse were less forceful and resolved to knock the ball around.

This sitting back gave Boys’ Town the room they wanted to operate and they created numerous scoring chances, but failed to put them away. Peter Keys thrice missed with headers, while in the dying moments in a goal mouth melee Waterhouse did the ‘Houdini’ and again escaped to come away with the win.

Teams: Boys’ Town — Kirk Porter, Carlos Wright, Wayne Ellis, Hugh Evans, Daemon Benjamin, Asrick Samuels (Victor Thompson 46th), Michael Campbell (Richard Clarke 83rd), Kevin Blackwood (Anthony Dawes 71st), Rafiek Thomas, Peter Keys, Garfield Gillespie

Subs not used: L Goffe, C Dixon, S Edwards, R Minott

Booked: Thomas (24th), Wright (26th), Evans (45th+2)

Waterhouse — Richard McCallum, Nicholi Finlayson, Omar Walcott, Oshane Roberts, Kimorlie Brissett, Ronald Joseph (Roderick Williams 58th), Damarley Samuels, Hughan Gray (Deandre Brown 80th), Kenroy Howell, Romario Campbell, Marvin Morgan (Juvaune Benjamin 75th)

Subs not used: K Cousins, R Amos, V Hayles, R Henry

Booked: Gray (44th)

Referee: Wilverglen Lamey

Assistant Referees: Richard Washington, Antonette Williams

Fourth Official: Jermaine Douglas

Match Commissary: James Pearson