Waterhouse pass Molynes test in JPL season opener
KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of last season’s losing semi-finalists, Waterhouse FC, passed a stern test on Sunday night when they were pushed all the way by Molynes United before running out 2-1 winners in their season opener in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
A second half brace from striker Devroy Grey helped Waterhouse come from a goal down to beat a determined Molynes United team 2-1 and earn three points to start the season. Shernardo Green got the Molynes consolation goal.
Based on the position the two teams finished in last season, Waterhouse were considered favourites to win, but it was Molynes who started the brighter of the two.
Playing like a team with a plan and with purpose and under the guidance of new coach Alex Thomas, Molynes were quick out the blocks and took the lead after just 13 minutes when Green fired home from close range after Kemmoy Phillips twice spurned back-to-back easy opportunities to score with the Waterhouse defence in disarray.
A goal to the good, and with the wind in their sails, Molynes continued to press their opponents in search of more, but were unable to find any more goals.
Waterhouse finally turned up to the party in the second half and with the brothers, Ramone and Kenroy Howell taking the game by the scruff on the neck, the team from Drewsland pushed back the young guns from Molynes.
Then with just under half hour to go, Waterhouse struck through the combination of Damion Binns and Grey.
Binns was given the space to overlap down the left flank and whip in a cross which Grey got on the end of to steer past Peter Harrison, who was left flapping at thin air in the 64th minute.
Exactly 15 minutes later, the same combination put Waterhouse ahead as Binns whipped in another vicious cross from the left which Grey acrobatically steered home with his head to make it 2-1 to Waterhouse in the 79th minute.
Molynes tried their best to level things and came close on a couple of occasions late on but were unable to grab the equalizer.
For Waterhouse it was an important win to start the campaign while for Molynes United the performance will certainly boost morale at the club with a new coach and many new, young players.
