- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Constant Spring's Walter Boyd (left) and Waterhouse's Roberto Fletcher hold onto each other while battling for possession in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League at Constant Spring yesterday. The teams tied 0-0.
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
WATERHOUSE AND Portmore United will contest Sunday's Wray and Nephew National Premier League end-of-second round final.
Leaders Portmore had already secured their spot, while Water-house confirmed theirs after a 0-0 draw. They ended on 22 points, the same as Tivoli Gardens who were also contending for a place in the final.
However, Tivoli squandered a glorious chance when Christopher Nicholas had a penalty saved by Aaron Lawrence, forcing them to settle 0-0 against opponents who were reduced to 10 with a first half sending off.
Waterhouse also managed to avoid defeat at the hands of 10-man Constant Spring, and the atmosphere among the officials was tense until news came that Tivoli had played out a 0-0 draw.
ELATED
"Yes!," shouted Ainsley Smikle, a Waterhouse official when he realised his team had qualified for their second end-of-round-final of the season. He was just one voice in the scores of Waterhouse interests who viewed the milestone as something to celebrate.
"It is a very good achievement," said coach Peter Cargill.
"We have been working hard all season and it has paid off."
Buoyed by a 5-0 crushing of Constant Spring's Under-21 side by their charges, Waterhouse yesterday marched out on a parched and dusty playing field with good memories of the 4-0 flogging they gave Constant Spring last year.
Their three forwards in Kevin Lamey, Roberto Fletcher and Shane Edwards, however, were unable to breach Constant Spring's suspect defence.
In fact, for most of the first half they were matched by a hard-running Spring team. Constant Spring came the closest to scoring in the half but Walter Boyd's deflection from four yards from a ball headed down by Nigel Reid was saved off the line by Roger Rodney.
Both teams went to the first half even but four minutes after the resumption Waterhouse must have thought that they were in with a good chance of picking up three points when Collin Brown was ejected by Victor Stewart for a second bookable offence. His ejection had little bearing on the game, however, as Spring fought stoutly until the end, cutting out several promising Waterhouse build-ups.
Constant Spring's coach Danny Lyn was happy with the point but said he wants his team to start going for the win as of next round.
"We need a point and we came out and did well. We fought for it, the players did well and I am happy," Lyn said. "Next round I want for us to come out and start winning some games."
OTHER RESULTS
Harbour View beat Wadadah 2-0 at Compound and at Prison Oval Rivoli defeated Invaders 4-0.
