Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Wollaston

Just when the odds seemed impossibly stacked against premier league champions Waterhouse, a goal out of nothing from in-form striker Brian Wollaston saw them march past the Jamaica Defence Force 1-0 in Western Union/ KSAFA Jackie Bell action at Up Park camp yesterday.

In the 90th minute, Wollaston's attempt rolled slowly into the back of the net, not only bringing immediate relief to a rapidly-tiring team, which were by that point down to nine men, but also to the many disgruntled Waterhouse spectators on hand.

When the usually alert JDF custodian Allien Whittaker hesitated in attempting to come for a ball trickling 10 yards away from his goal line, the striker reacted quickly, managed to beat the keeper to the punch and secured the goal which would see his team advance to the semi-finals.

Just eight minutes before, substitute Vincent Earle, having recently returned from injury, was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge, stomping down on the JDF's Darraine Hall.

Five minutes before that card Waterhouse last man Roger Rodney was also given a straight red card for another rash challenge.

Waterhouse coach Barrington Gaynor did not think his team played their best game but is relieved to see them progress to the next round.

"We never really got adjusted to conditions out here today with the wind and pitch, but it's good to come out with a win," he said.

"We started slowly, picked things up in the second half but then the red cards threw us totally out of sync," Gaynor added.

A disappointed JDF coach, Owen Nelson, believes a lapse in concentration was what led to his team's downfall.

"This game really points out how important the mental aspect of football is," he said.

"In that aspect, this is one of the worst games we have played, they caught us napping, I think the guys were already beginning to think about penalties," he added.

Wollaston

Jamaica Defence Force