Ainsley Walters, Freelance Reporter

A RELIEVED Wayne Fairclough on Sunday night provided excuses for his forwards who muffed chance after chance in a 1-0 Cash Plus Premier League win against Boys' Town at Drewsland Mini Stadium.

Waterhouse intensified the battle for third spot behind joint leaders Portmore and Tivoli Gardens, moving to 42 points, one off Boys' Town.

Jonathan Williams lifted Leon Strickland's 39th minute pass over Kirk Porter to score after Waterhouse had the better of early attacking play, but he failed to find the back of the net from several other chances inside the box.

Selfishness resulted in Roberto Fletcher and Kenardo Forbes attempting impossible shots from acute angles on either side of goal with Jomo Gordon standing almost on the goal line in both instances, the 29th and 30th minutes.

Anxious forwards

"Not having won a game in seven matches, anxiety got the better of our forwards," said Fairclough, whose team ended Boys' Town's unbeaten run in the third round.

"They were not clinical but they tried. I wouldn't say they played badly," he added.

Boys' Town's Andrew Price said his team could have pulled off at least a draw but accepted defeat at tough Waterhouse where only one team has won this season.

"It was a good measuring stick to see where we are against a team like Waterhouse," he pointed out.

"What we've to do now is ace as many points as possible from this round ahead of the crucial fourth round," Price added.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes following the ejection of Marco McDonald and Daemion Benjamin, but threw everything into attack.

Boys' Town had their chances before Williams netted for Waterhouse as George Vernal and Denzil Watson had shots going just wide of the far post.

Williams got what turned out to be the match-winner six minutes before half-time.

The second half broke down into a scrappy, card-littered affair as both teams lost shape badly. However, Waterhouse got a handful of chances throughout the half, especially Gordon, who brought out a fine 68th minute save from a diving Porter.

Waterhouse 1

Jonathan Williams 39th

Boys' Town 0