Fairclough makes triumphant return
published:
Monday | December 3, 2007
Nodley Wright , Freelance Writer
Robert Robinson of Waterhouse (left) and Lacon Brisssett of Village United collide while challenging for the ball during the Cash Plus Premier League game at Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth yesterday. Waterhouse won 2-1. - photo by Richard Morais
Waterhouse recorded their first win in over one month, a 2-1 win over the still winless Village United at Elliston Wakeland Centre yesterday in the Cash Plus Premier League.
The win coincided with the return of Wayne Fairclough who severed ties in 2006 after leading the club to their last Premier League title. The club's last win was on October 21 when they defeated Reno 2-1. Subsequent poor results led to the parting of ways with Peruvian Danilo Barriga and re-employment of Fairclough on Friday last.
Jonathan Williams in the 23rd minute and Kirk Ramsey in the 66th minute were responsible for the Waterhouse strikes, while Devron Clarke had given Village hopes of their first win when he equalised in the 61st minute.
In a sometimes overly physical game played with a lot of heart, spirit and guts, the visiting team always seemed to be that much better than the home team which managed just two shots on goal, one of which scored. As the statistics showed, Village lacked the finishing touch or the killer instinct.
The wiry Jonathan Williams gave Waterhouse the lead in the 23rd minute when club veteran Damion Powell swung in a free kick from midway the Village half and he met it with a header.
When Village equalised, it came as no surprise that Clarke, their best player on the day, was responsible. He intercepted a bad back pass from Roger Rodney, flicked it over the head of the advancing Richard McCallum in goal for Waterhouse and slotted home coolly.
The scores were not to remain level long as Ramsey reacted quickest inside the 18-yard box to steer home a ball, which Llewellyn blocked from a Wollaston shot.
A good game
"(It was) not a classic, but a good game to watch. It was a game where we saw the pendulum swinging from end to end. We got more opportunities to score than Village and I think we did what we had to do by scoring two to their one," was how coach Fairclough summed up his winning return. Village's Fitzroy 'Johnny' Williams felt that his team did not show up to play.
"Obviously, Village did not come to take the three points. We were lethargic in the first half. We spoke about is at half-time and people just came back out and went through the motions."
