Waterhouse FC dropped two more valuable points in their desperate bid to avoid relegation after squandering an early first-half lead to draw 2-2 with Cavalier SC in a Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) game at Stadium East, in a late kick-off on Sunday.

Second-half substitute Rodave Murray equalised for Waterhouse with the final kick of the match in the 90th+4 minute after Kenroy Howell had given them the lead in minute 23.

Another second-half substitute, Chevon Marsh, had equalised for Cavalier in the 57th minute, while Dawyne Smith put them ahead in the 81st before Murray tied up the game.

Under returning coach Anthony Patrick, Waterhouse looked fired up for a fresh start and immediately threw down the gauntlet to a Cavalier team that accepted the challenge. However, the visitors’ industry paid off when Kenroy Howell got past three Cavalier defenders to beat goalkeeper Carlloyd Waters from inside the box after he ran on to a precision pass from Kemar Beckford.

Cavalier remained flat even after the goal was scored and Waterhouse should have increased the advantage soon after but Howell missed a sitter, this time with his little-used right foot to leave the score unchanged for the remainder of the first half.

Waterhouse continued from where they left off in the first half by appearing just resolute. However, with Waterhouse looking a more determined and cohesive outfit than when the teams drew 4-4 at the venue in the previous round, Cavalier introduced Mash, their linchpin forward, six minutes after the restart and shortly after he bulged the Waterhouse net to level the score at 1-1.

Just as the teams were settling down for a competitive evening of football, Waterhouse lost the capable defender Weston Forrest in the 64th minute through injury and he was replaced by Rohan Amos.

From the loss of Forrest, the Waterhouse defence began to wobble and nine minutes from time Cavalier inched ahead through Smith, who later left the field injured.

Earlier, Waterhouse had brought on Dinthill schoolboy Murray in the place of Andre Leslie and with his final kick of the match, scored the goal that salvaged a point for the team.

Waterhouse FC Head Coach Anthony Patrick was pleased with the response of the team. “We should have done better with the chances we created. But a draw is always better than a loss and from where we stand, it is work in progress. I am happy with the spirit of the team and this augurs well for the task that lay ahead,” he added.

Cavalier Head Coach Rudolph Spied said his team “showed good character to come from a goal down and should have won the game. We should have done much better but our first half was very poor. The second half we picked it up and got two goals. We should have got a couple more but basically, we just lost concentration at the end and allowed Waterhouse back into the game”.

Teams: Cavalier SC – Carlloyd Walters, Shawn Lawes, Cleon Pryce, Norman Bailey (Ryan Miller 71st), Jeffrey Henry, Dwayne Smith (Nicholas Hamilton 82nd), Jason Watson, Al Nesbeth, Shaquille Dyer, Oshane Jenkins, Suela McCalla (Chevon Marsh 51st)

Subs not used: Charles Atal, Jahwani Hinds, Aldaine Grant, Courtney Dowdie

Booked: Henry (40th)

Waterhouse FC – Akeem Chambers, Nicholy Finlayson, Weston Forrest (Rohan Amos 64th), Hughan Gray, Kymani Campbell, Sean Coleman, Romario Campbell, Carlos Wright, Kemar Beckford, Andre Leslie (Rodave Murray 66th), Kenroy Howell (DeAndre Brown 79th)

Subs not used: Rashaun Patterson, Omar Walcott, Nicholas Nelson, Kevin Lamey

Booked: Romario Campbell (45th)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant Referees: Damian Williams, Omar Mills

Fourth Official: Gawayne Scott

Match Commissioner: Denise Williamson