By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterKEVIN LAMEY scored a double to lead 10-man Waterhouse to a 3-0 victory over woeful Arnett Gardens and top of the table in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
In the match at Drewsland yesterday, a 14th minute strike by in-form midfielder Damion Powell started the ball rolling.
Lamey's second half show saw the striker finding the back of the net in the 48th and 88th minutes of play to humble Arnett and lift the homesters to sole leadership position in the overall standings on 37 points, three more than Harbour View which lost 2-3 at home against Village.
The win also lifted the Drewsland team to 12 points in the second round standings, fourth behind Portmore and Village (14) and Rivoli (16).
Arnett remained on 18 and four points respectively in the overall and second round standings.
In a game that usually brings high drama and excitement, Arnett Gardens surprisingly turned up highly short staffed. Without the services of Alex Thomas, Gerald Neil, Keith Kelly and Gregory Messam, the visitors tried to stave off the numerous attacks mounted by a full strength Waterhouse team.
A plethora of missed opportunities by Waterhouse kept the Arnett hopes alive until Powell fired a 22 yard free-kick past an ill-conceived wall that left goalie Julian McLeish unsighted until the last moment.
With the score at 1-0, Arnett looked woefully outclassed but Waterhouse continued to miss and the visitors had a few opportunities from counter attacks that must have had them thinking they were still in the game.
Things looked even brighter for the 'Junglists' when Waterhouse's captain, Irvino English, who had been wreaking havoc on them down the left flank, was ejected for violent conduct.
BOTTLE THROWING
English's red card led to a bottle throwing incident at half-time which was quelled after the Arnett team had to wait for a few minutes on the field before being allowed to their dressing room.
A public apology was issued by the Waterhouse management for the incident.
The second-half spelt doom for Arnett as even with a man down, Waterhouse had no trouble in taking advantage of inadequate marking in the box on counter plays.
Weston Forrest's cross was the perfect example of this as it found the head of Uchechukwu Chinyuere who wisely chose to head the ball on to an unmarked Lamey, who wasted no time in placing a one time shot into the back of the goal.
It was on a counter that Lamey found the back of the net again. Surprisingly, on this occasion Arnett weren't short staffed and as a matter of fact, had three players surrounding the forward when he got the ball on the half line.
Lamey fought off their challenges with a show of strength and with a dribble that spanned the entire half, still found the composure to find the left hand corner of the goal to complete what could have already been a rout.
Arnett's coach, Jerome Waite, didn't seem surprised at the result and knew the reason for his team's performance:
"The team that partied less in the holidays was victorious," he said.
"I have to congratulate the Waterhouse team. I think they dominated a game that they really deserved to win," he added.
Waterhouse's coach, Harold Thomas, while happy about the win, noticed areas that could be worked on.
"We're particularly satisfied with today's performance but there is still some work to do," he said.
"There is some concern in the area of goalscoring. We decided that that was something we were going to work on, we got the opportunities and we didn't put them away but it's work in progress and we'll get there," he added.
Whitmore celebrates Seba return with goal
By Devon Evans, Freelance Writer
OCHO RIOS:
FORMER CHAMPIONS Seba United of St. James, who are struggling to get themselves out of the relegation zone, scored a 2-1 victory over another bottom-placed team, Star Cosmos of St. Mary, in their Wray and Nephew National Premiere League match at Drax Hall yesterday.
Seba led 2-0 in the first half with goals in the 11th minute from national captain Theodore Whitmore, in his first NPL game since returning from Scotland where he was released by Premiership team Livingstone; and Jermaine Anderson in the 28th minute. Andre Lawson scored for Star Cosmos in the 87th minute.
After dominating the first half, Seba began the second like a team on the hunt for more goals, but Star Cosmos' defenders, including Lawson, Omar Davis and Tanardo Copeland, were in no mood to offer any chances.
In the 60th minute, a long range shot from Seba's Jermaine Anderson forced the Star Cosmos 'keeper to dive full stretch to push the ball for a corner. The resultant kick ended in another corner, but that proved to be a wasted effort.
Star Cosmos also countered with some good moves in the middle and in the 75th minute captain Richard Morgan brought loud cheers from the partisan home crowd with a stylish dribble through the Seba midfield. However, his combination with Lawson was not good enough to penetrate the Seba defence.
As the game progressed Star Cosmos eventually found the net in the 87th minute. A corner kick taken by Gary Banton accurately found its mark on the head of Lawson, who nodded the ball into the goal.
At the end of the game, Seba's coach, Edwin Alcock was happy with taking all three points and hinted that Seba was on its way out of the relegation zone.
"Our number one objective is to get out of this zone and place ourselves in a much better position because where we are is not a team like Seba's position in any league at all," Alcock said.
He also said the presence of Whitmore in the team has brought a lot of confidence to the players and that hopefully this will create more victories.
Lewin Purser, the coach of Star Cosmos, said his team did not play according to his game plan and it caused them the match.
"We know we can beat quality teams but today they just took Seba as a light team and just didn't really turn out to play good football," Purser lamented.
In the Under 21 game, which was played earlier, Seba edged Star Cosmos 1-0.
Nelson's goals keep Portmore on course
Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
A DOUBLE from last season's leading score Roen Nelson lifted defending champions Portmore United to a 2-1 win over newcomers Invaders FC in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League at the Elliston Wakeland Sports Complex yesterday.
In a far from thrilling encounter, both teams struggled to play quality football and only Nelson's first strike lifted the game to the level of mediocrity.
That goal came in the 36th minute when he pickled off a back pass and with only Richard McCallum to beat, he picked his spot and rammed home from inside the 18-yard box.
Prior to Nelson's conversion the only thing of note was a miss from point blank range from Thomas Grant.
The second half improved but the players still looked as if their heads were not fully into the game. By this time Portmore United were moving the ball around better but it was still not their beautiful flowing game.
Invaders too looked a far cry from the team which gave neighbours Village United a torrid time in a drawn game the previous week.
Nelson, who floated in and out of the game, made it 2-0 for his team in the 71st minute when he shook off the attention of Glenford McDonald and fired a wicked left-footer from inside the box which dipped under the fierce pressure of the heavy wind blowing in the opposite direction and fooled McCallum.
A number of chances were to come the way of Nelson to complete his hat trick but it was not to be as he wasted them all. Strike partner Andrew Morrison also missed a simple chance.
Against the run of play Invaders pulled goal back in the 81st minute.
Schoolboy Ricardo Geddes fired a shot on goal, which struck the hands of goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers and rebounded onto the head of the onrushing Grant and into the back of the net.
At the end of the game both coaches blamed the lacklustre performance on the players overindulgence in the festive season.
"They drank too much sorrel over the holidays," said Invaders' coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis who added, "that is the main factor."
Davis added that he had no problems with players enjoying themselves during the holidays but said that they should do things in moderation.
"Players have to learn that they are professionals and they have to (do things in moderation). "They know they have a game and they should cool down on the drinking and the partying," said Davis.
Said Hyde of his players: "I think the sorrel is still in them."
Despite that Hyde was pleased with the outcome.
"We played an ugly game and won which is good. We needed the win. The three points put us closer to the leaders," he added.
They moved to 33 points in the overall standings, the same as Village United and one off second p[laced Harbour View. Waterhouse lead on 37 points.
Portmore also have an identical 14 points to share joint second in the second round standings. Rivoli lead on 16.
Invaders have 17 and six points in the respective overall and second round standings.
Beech's goal keeps Rivoli bubbling
Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
FOLLOWING THEIR upset victory over defending champions Portmore United the previous week, the Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Constant Spring came to Spanish Town's Prison Oval yesterday bubbling with confidence to capture three points from Rivoli United.
They were denied, however, as they were beaten 1-0 by the home team which maintained their lead in the second round of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League football competition.
Captain Patrick Beech increased his tally of goals to 12, scoring in the 57th minute of play to make the difference as his team moved on to 16 points.
There was little to cheer for in the early going as both teams seemed as if they were still in the festive mood. It made for an uneventful clash in the entire half and none of the teams appeared like they were interested in scoring a goal.
Rivoli came out in a very attacking mode in the second half with Nigerian Mobi Operaku marshalling the midfield for his team. He, along with Beech and the much-improved Devon Hodges, forced the Constant Spring defenders on their back-foot quite early in the half.
Hence, it was no surprise when the home team took the lead. Garfield Reid, who was fouled just outside the 18 yard area, took the free kick himself and picked out Beech just metres from the goalkeeper. The team leader made no mistake, kicking past goalkeeper Leighton Murray for the game's only strike.
Constant Spring responded with captain Fabian Watkins, Oneil Morrison and Markino Gillings playing well in parts but despite their efforts, it was Rivoli which continued to dominate the game, even though their defenders Dwight Heron and Marlon Edwards were forced to keep the Constant Spring forwards at bay.
After playing brilliantly throughout the game though, Heron missed the final five minutes as he got marching orders from referee Howard Stennett for a second bookable offence, when he was found guilty of kicking one of his opponents who was on the ground.
Rivoli's coach, Bradley Stewart, was very elated with his team's victory.
He said: "I would like to give credit to Constant Spring as they played a hard game, but my team played very well and we are hoping to continue this winning trend for the remainder of the season."
A dejected Geoffrey Maxwell, coach of Constant Spring which failed to add to their second round tally of 10 points and 21 in the overall standings, failed to give an interview as immediately after the sound of the referee's whistle to end the match he disappeared.
