Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Tivoli Gardens striker Roland Dean (centre) tries to dribble from the midst of Waterhouse players Vincent Earle (left) and Roger Rodney during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at Drewsland Mini Stadium yesterday. Waterhouse won 1-0. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
KEVIN LAMEY served up a simple but delightful finish at the hour mark to appease the vast majority of goal-hungry fans at the packed Drewsland Mini Stadium as homesters Waterhouse nipped Tivoli Gardens 1-0 in a mouth-watering Wray and Nephew National Premier League battle yesterday.
"We've started the ball rolling with three points," Waterhouse coach Calvert Fitzgerald admitted.
"Our fitness isn't where we want it to be but it's early season and so we'll continue to build on this momentum," he said.
The Drewsland team had lost their opening match 2-0 on Sunday at Arnett and flirted with danger by missing and conceding several good scoring chances in a very good football game yesterday.
That was until Lamey's one-time finish at the far post off Weston Forrest's cross, following a beautiful combination of passes in a one-two sequence that started deep in the Waterhouse half with a throw-in at the left touch line.
Apart from the goal finish, the build-up mirrored much of those that had gone unrewarded in an open game where both teams continuously went for the winner with positive all-round play.
Both the passing, most of which took the grounded route around 30 metres, and dribbling was of a high standard and it contributed to the number of times either team was able to penetrate off the value of their own good play and not defensive lapses because players went swiftly in anticipation of the return ball forward that was played into space.
If there was an advantage, the real evidence came through the ratio of chances created by Waterhouse before the goal had been scored.
Much of that was due to the overall passing precision of the Waterhouse midfielders, namely Demar Phillips and Vincent Earle who controlled the middle of the ballpark all game, added to Lamey's cunning, which made him a stand-out among the front-line players.
Earle got stiff competition in terms of presence from Tivoli's Waheem Walker but the usually dependable dynamo was off with his passing and it impacted on his team.
Of greater impact was full back Oraine Simpson's sending off for a second bookable offence at the 66th minute, which enabled Waterhouse to strengthen their possession game and attacking intensity.
Tivoli Gardens never played dead, however, and with Christopher Nicholas dropping back to inspire his charges from midfield, the west Kingston team gave Waterhouse a run for their money right down to the last minute of the three added on for stoppages.
SCOREBOARD
WATERHOUSE 1
Kevin Lamey 60th
TIVOLI GARDENS 0.
