FORMER champions Reno of Westmoreland took advantage of Waterhouse's inactivity to take over as leaders of the National Premier League yesterday.
Waterhouse could regain the lead today if they beat Arnett Gardens when teams meet at Ferdie Neita Park at 3:00.
In the game played at Frome, the Wendell Downswell-coached Reno outscored Olympic Gardens 5-3 to advance to 12 points. Waterhouse remain on 10 points and were joined by Tivoli Gardens who beat Seba United 3-0 at Railway Oval.
At Alcoa Sports Club, Hazard hung on to their record of being the only team in the competition yet to score a goal. They played to a 0-0 draw with Wadadah to climb off the bottom of the table and move above Olympic Gardens on goal difference.
In yesterday's late game Constant Spring rebounded from their 0-1 weekend loss against Reno to upset defending champions Harbour View 3-1 in a thrilling encounter at Compound.
At Railway Oval, strikes from Jermaine Johnson in the fourth minute, Steve Green in the 55th and Andrew Chisholm in the 89th powered the home team to a handsome win.
The game started at a torrid pace with Seba getting the first opportunity to score. They failed to capitalise and were made to pay when Johnson struck.
By the 10th minute, Tivoli could have been three up as Johnson missed three chances.
However, Johnson's roaming was slowed down in the 25th minute by a strong tackle. He took up the ball well into his own half and went on a mazy dribble, riding tackle after tackle before kicking straight at Kenrick Picknight in goal. At the end of the run, Johnson began to favour his left knee. From then on he passed the ball before being substituted at halftime.
With Johnson slowed down, Green took control of his team, dishing out passes in midfield while Iton Scott and Damion Williams tried to match him with skill.
Seba could have gone into the halftime break on even terms as Wilfred Smith got a rare break on the Tivoli defence on the edge of the 18-yard box. With goalkeeper Edsel Scott almost helpless, Smith tried to acrobatically flick the ball over Scott's head. It did not come off.
For the second half, both teams made changes up front. Tivoli brought on Nashan Allen and Chisholm for Johnson and Damion Brown while Seba introduced Horatio Brown for Omar Clarke.
Within minutes of the resumption, Tivoli were on the attack with Allen springing the off-side trap only to be stopped inside the 18-yard box by Scion McNish with a desperate tackle.
Tivoli claimed their second goal when Allen was cut down just outside the 18-yard box. Green stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the back of the net.
The final goal came when Chisholm picked up a ball from about 40 yards out and dribbled across the goal area before driving a right-footer home.
By Nodley Wright
Staff Reporter
