Waterhouse meet Portmore in top clash
published: Sunday | January 4, 2004

Waterhouse's Lamey

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Portmore United and league leaders Waterhouse, the form team at the moment, square off at Drewsland this afternoon as the race for second round points continues in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.

Waterhouse, the end of first round champions, have 37 points overall but have secured only 12 points in the second round.

Champions Portmore United (33 points overall) have 14 points this round for a share for second place with Village United (33 overall), but they are two points behind second-round leaders Rivoli United (29 overall) with 16.

Following their 2-1 win over Harbour View, which they pocketed three bonus points for, Waterhouse have dropped six points in three games and are lying fifth, that puts them in a must-win situation today if they want to appear in another end-of-round final.

With this, Waterhouse assistant coach Barry Brown is promising a shock for the Lenny Hyde-coached Portmore team at their home.

"We're almost invincible at Drewsland," he said, while referring to the seven-game unbeaten streak they've racked up at home.

"The energy we generate from the crowd is almost unbelievable," Brown continued. "Coming to Drewsland is going to be a challenge to any team because we don't intend to give up any points there."

Hyde shared the view that playing against Waterhouse would be tough but warned they should be aware his team enjoys playing on the road.

"They've been doing well, not losing a game at home but we love playing away," the champion coach explained. The Portmore coach said they will not sit back and watch Waterhouse play.

"We're going down there to play an attacking game," he said.

"We're not holding back. We need to get three points to move closer to this Waterhouse team," he said. However, the coach did say Kevin Lamey will be the man to watch, this after the striker went back atop the goalscorer's table following a double against Arnett.

Despite Lamey, Hyde believes "playing a passing game and keeping possession of the ball will be the key", but in the meantime, he said, "we have to keep possession and mark Lamey. He's the one scoring the goals."

Waterhouse will be missing captain Irvino English, who was ejected against Arnett, but national Under-23 player Demar Phillips is expected to fill his skipper's position, just as he did in the first round final against Harbour View.

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