By Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterTWO HOURS after returning from Mexico with the national Under-23 team, Tivoli's strike pair of Christopher Nicholas and Roland Dean combined to score their team's goals for a 2-0 win against Portmore United in yesterday's Wray and Nephew National Premier League encounter at Ferdie Neita Park.
Nicholas netted from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute after Dean was inexplicably brought down in the box by Kevin Deerr.
The latter, after being fed a pass in the centre circle, proceeded to juggle on his thigh and was dispossessed by Dean. Deerr then tracked the wily attacker all the way into Shawn Sawyers' penalty area then bundled him over, leaving referee Howard Stennett with no option but to point to the spot.
PENALTY
Nicholas was entrusted with the responsibility of converting the penalty and that he did by clinically placing to the left of Sawyers who did not bother to move.
Not surprisingly, both Dean and Nicholas earned extra credit from their coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.
"We must give them credit. They showed a lot of character, a lot of heart by coming straight off the plane and coming straight to the match."
Meanwhile, after seeing the net rocking once behind one of the league's most respected custodians, Sawyers, Portmore looked to be out of it.
Apart from being asked to do the mopping up work on a few over-hit passes and pull down a couple of aerial crosses, Tivoli's goalie Philmore Crumbie had a quiet day between the sticks.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Tivoli mounted attacks in spurts but there were no more goals.
When the final whistle came, there was celebration on the faces of those dressed in Tivoli's colours, orange and black and disappointment among the blue and white clad spectators.
For two Portmore players, Wolry Wolfe and Derrick Smith, defeat was too much and they could not help coming to blows inside the team's dressing room.
Yesterday's victory took the End-of-Second round champions further into the lead on 51 points. Portmore remained on 44, the same as Harbour View who lost their stripes to Arnett at the Tony Spaulding Complex.
After stating that he knew Portmore was always going to be tough opponents, Bailey said: "We decided that to come away with a point will be good but to come away with three is even better".
Meanwhile, a disappointed Lenworth Hyde, coach of Portmore said:
"We did not even create a chance. We weren't getting anything from the midfielders and that cost us the game."
Late goals keep Waterhouse in top four
Paul-Andre Walker
Staff Reporter
WATERHOUSE, in the most fortunate fashion, rallied from behind and returned to winning ways against Reno in Wray and Nephew National Premier League action yesterday at Drewsland.
The semi-final hopefuls came away with a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Roger Rodney (83rd minute) and Shane Edwards (86th).
Reno's consolation goal came earlier from the boot of Kirk Wright in the 64th minute.
The victory keeps Waterhouse in fourth place on 43 points, still only a point ahead of Village who are breathing down their necks in a bid for a coveted semi-final berth.
The first-round Premiership leaders attacked from the get-go, swarming the Reno flanks and pushing numerous crosses past the face of the opposing goal.
The one-time change ball seemed to be most effective with Damion Powell of Waterhouse finding teammate and former Portmore United player, Kirk Ramsay, behind the defenders on numerous occasions.
While all of this was happening in favour of Waterhouse, the hosts did show signs of weakness in the back and Reno looked as if they could surprise their hosts and change the nature of the game.
The game also saw the return of former Manning Cup star, Andre Virtue to local football. He looked a little out of sorts and his non-performance in midfield, along with the inexperience of young Vincent Earl, allowed Reno to remain competitive.
The second half brought changes for the Waterhouse team and they looked a more complete team with the inclusion of Andre Hickling and Curtis Hamilton.
UNDER PRESSURE
These substitutions didn't make the same kind of impression as did the inclusion of Wright, whose solo effort put Waterhouse under all kinds of pressure on their home ground.
Picking up a long ball mid-way the Waterhouse half, the striker turned and found his markers lagging and hit a 35-yard effort into the left pigeon of Loxley Reid's goal with the veteran 'keeper flailing without success.
Behind and at home, the Waterhouse team had no choice but to go into all-out attack and this was where Reno should have won the game. Wright, who had been the hero earlier, beat the offside trap twice and should have done better with only the 'keeper to beat on both occasions.
Those misses were to cost them three valuable points as not long after Rodney found the back of the net from a goal mouth melee, then Edwards converted to snatch victory from the visitors.
"We should have gone at least two up and we paid the price for that. Wright scored a goal that was more difficult than those he missed. We lapsed a little defensively but Waterhouse must be given credit for not giving up," said disappointed Reno coach, Boyse Nicholson.
For Waterhouse's assistant coach, Barry Brown, the game was as difficult as expected.
He said: "We expected a tough fight, Reno are playing to stay in the league and we are playing to make it to the semis," he said.
