Borris Johnson (background) challenges Rivoli's Mobi Opraku for the ball during their premier league match on Wednesday.
-Ian Allen photo
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
HE MIGHT not have scored any of the goals but in a big way, veteran midfielder Boris Johnson was the silent assassin for Waterhouse while they virtually killed off Rivoli's hopes in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League clash at Waterhouse Mini Stadium on Wednesday.
With only 11 minutes gone on the clock, Johnson took a pass into the opposing team's penalty area where Rivoli's national full back, Garfield Reid, was forced to stop his threat at goal by bringing him down.
Rivoli fought back to draw level and had things going their way into the half time break.
Things were fairly even during the opening exchanges of the second half until Johnson stopped an attack at the half line and made an excellent transition play with a superb pass behind Rivoli's defence.
So perfect and well weighted was the pass that neither Rivoli's back line players nor their goalkeeper had a ghost of a chance to get close to the ball or the person to whom it was passed, Kevin Lamey, who had replaced Uchechukwu Chinyere at the interval.
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With several years to score, Lamey took the ball in stride into the penalty box, cut it onto his favoured right foot and hit a shot which fooled everybody and brought an about-turn reaction upon realisation it had lodged into the back of the net, and not on top of the roof.
As the case with the first goal, the accolades and fanfare were showered upon the scorer.
In the meantime Johnson, who had made some timely interceptions, tackles and choice simple passes while tempering his team's play, took his own time jogging back to position himself for his next challenge.
"Experience is what's going to carry us through," said the 31-year-old midfielder whose team is in a close battle to make the semi-finals.
They scored another goal to win 3-1, thus holding onto fourth in the standings as they moved to 53 points. Trelawny team Village United beat leaders Tivoli Gardens to advance to 53 points as well, but Waterhouse have the better goal difference.
Rivoli, meantime, remained on 50 after losing the crucial encounter.
"It's crunch time now so the experienced players have to carry it to the next level. We need to use that, because we're playing with a lot of youths," he said.
Regarding the win, he said: "It's important, it has kind of eased us out of a situation."
Looking forward to their upcoming schedule, in his matter of factly manner, Johnson states: "We've two more games that we need to get positive results from."
Don't bet against him taking out the opponent.
