Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
LAMEY
LIVING THE memories of deceased coach Peter Cargill, Waterhouse players lined up in the centre of their Drewsland field to form a number seven just before the start of their Wray and Nephew National Premier League game against Reno yesterday.
All this time new coach Max Straw contemplated a six-goal thrashing of the Westmoreland side. But when the encounter ended, his side had to settle for the difference between Cargill's number and the six goals he had hoped for a 1-0 win.
The goal came from the boots of Nigerian import Uche Chinerye, who was playing in only his second game of the season. The powerfully built striker netted in the 18th minute from a Kirk Ramsey cross, which he drove ferociously past Aaron Lawrence who had denied him twice before.
Lawrence was beaten on two other occasions, by Kevin Lamey (35th) and then late in the second half by Demar Phillips. However, referee Courtney Campbell, who adjudged Phillips to have been offside, also ruled that the ball played through to Lamey went out of play.
"It's a result we can live with. I really wanted six goals but we can take heart in the fact that the last time we played Reno they beat us 1-0. We have turned the tables and for that I am happy," Straw said of the win that pushed his fourth place team to 56 points.
"I would have been happy with half-nil," Straw added.
Although still with a game in the bag, Straw thinks his team would have improved their chances of getting the $1 million prize for topping the league had they scored more goals "being that it may come down to goal difference".
Meanwhile, that money is farthest from Lawrence's mind. For him, his team "will just have to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next game.
"The result is nothing to be ashamed of. We would have wanted a point from the game. We played well but unfortunately it didn't go our way," Lawrence, Reno's player/coach said.
