Hyre feels heat

By Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter

BEING a freshman Premier League coach is never easy. Constant Spring's Braxton Hyre, who took over from Danny Lyn recently, sat stone-faced yesterday afternoon as spectators sitting feet away hurled abuse after abuse during a 0-0 draw with visiting Waterhouse.

Rooting for another home win after a 4-2 demolition of champions Arnett Gardens two rounds ago, loud and foul-mouthed Spring fans erupted when the team lost momentum after Hyre pulled out forward Oneil Morrison for Mario Watts, a national 400 metre hurdler, 18 minutes inside the second-half.

Constant Spring were always looking more threatening than Waterhouse throughout the first half, constantly raiding the visitors' goal area and even had a 33rd-minute goal disallowed after sharpshooter Greg Gardner pulled down man-marker Kirk Campbell inside the box.

Gardner had tested goalie Loxley Reid seven minutes earlier with a powerful shot after robbing Damion Powell just outside the box, but the lanky 'keeper had no problem with the ball coming straight at him.

Spring started the second half as they ended the first, being the better attacking team with Gardner proving more than a handful for Campbell. Kicking to the Post Office end of the ground, they twice came close to scoring 10 minutes after the break.

Gardner sent jitters through the visitors' bench when he reached around the much taller Campbell to send a shot crashing high onto the goal support from the left side and Morrison brought out the best in goalie Reid with a high, looping kick off Fabian Watkins' back-header.

However, Waterhouse got back into the game after Hyre pulled out Morrison eight minutes later, replacing him with Watts - a move which fans didn't hesistate to criticise.

Some openly hoped for a few long-range Waterhouse shots to beat goalie Kelvin Brown.

Hyre afterwards said Spring's midfield broke down when injured Kibaki Holloway was substituted 14 minutes after the break, allowing Waterhouse to seize control.

"He's one of our main midfield players," he said. "That's why we lost the middle but we finished strong and that's a good sign."

Waterhouse's best chance of the half went to striker Kevin Lamey six minutes from time when Brown had to rush off his line to block a powerful shot from the tricky forward.

The goalless draw put Constant Spring in a four-way tie with Village, Wadadah and Tivoli on five points. Their next match is away against Village whereas Waterhouse, next-to-last with four points, tackle high-flying Arnett at the Tony Spaulding Sports Compex.

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