Waterhouse FC recovered from an own goal to defeat Rivoli United FC 2-1 in their Red Stripe Premier League game at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium on Sunday.

The victory maintains a slender hope for Waterhouse of escaping the drop as it lifted them one place up the standing to 11th on 28 points from 29 games. Rivoli United, who are also fighting relegation, slipped to 12th place on 27 points from 29 games in the 12-team championship.

Playing a high-pressed game from the opening whistle, Waterhouse found themselves a goal down after 29 minutes when defender Carlos Wright inadvertently put the ball into his own goal to gift Rivoli a 1-0 lead.

After the goal, the intensity of the game moved up a couple notches in the high-stakes matchup of the relegation stragglers.

Shortly after the half-time break, Waterhouse lost midfielder Romario Campbell, who had to leave the field and was replaced by Devon Hodges, following a collision with an opposing player.

With one of their better players now sidelined through injury, and desperate to avoid what would have been a costly defeat, Waterhouse scored two goals within four minutes of each other through Kemar Beckford and Theo Brown.

After falling behind, Rivoli became unhinged as players argued among themselves, which did not help their cause. On a high and hungry for more goals, Waterhouse took advantage of the Rivoli breakdown, but spurned a number of chances, and none more glaring than that by second-half substitute Andre Leslie.

The Waterhouse player, who got behind the visitors’ defence with his first touch, squandered the opportunity by over dribbling the ball into the hands of goalkeeper Marlon Henry who easily collected.

Teams:

Waterhouse FC – Kelso Cousins, Oshane Roberts, Nicholi Finlayson, Carlos Wright, Hughan Gray, Romario Campbell (Devon Hodges 13th, Omar Walcott 90+3), Sean Coleman, Theo Brown, Nicholas Nelson (Andre Leslie 69th), Jermaine Anderson, Kemar Beckford.

Subs not used: Roshane Patterson, Kymani Campbell, Mikhail Robinson, Deandre Brown

Booked: None

Rivoli United FC – Marlon Henry, Kemar Bennett, Kevin Graham, Liston James, Jemery Nelson, Shawn Hinds, Lenworth Pine, Ross Burton (Owen Walters 84th), Daniel Roberts (Rajay Sutherland 77th ), Nicholas Scott, Valentine Gardener (Dellon Dixon 72nd)

Subs not used: Levor Williams, Richard Reid, Damion Stewart, Fabian Gordon

Booked: None

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistant Referees: Richard Washington, Jeran Porteous

Fourth Official: Cardella Samuels

Match Commissioner: Deloris Williamson

– Hurbun Williams