Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
LEFT: Harbour View's Loxely Thomas (left) tackles Waterhouse's Vincent Earle in Wray and Nephew National Premier League action yesterday at the Harbour View Stadium. Harbour View came away from the encounter with a 3-1 victory. RIGHT: Harbour View goalscorers Marcelino Blackburn (left) and Oneil Smith celebrate after Blackburn scored the team's second goal. Smith would later add the team's third for a 3-1 victory over Waterhouse in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at the Harbour View Mini Stadium, yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
RED-HOT Harbour View United maintained their seven point lead atop the Wray and Nephew National Premier League following a 3-1 hammering of Waterhouse at the Harbour View Mini Stadium yesterday.
But 'The Stars of the East' had to battle from behind to do so. With a place already booked for them in Sunday's end-of round final, it was Waterhouse who early entertained thoughts of securing themselves a place in the final. They began the fixture hopeful of getting all three points and pray for an Arnett loss or draw. A 22nd minute strike by Jomo Gordon against his ex-team saw them well on their way to doing so.
Gordon profited from a Kevin Lamey chip from the top of the 18-yard box . He turned and unleashed a vicious left-foot strike that sailed over the head of Harbour View custodian Ryan Thompson and into the back of the net.
COMEBACK EFFORT
Harbour View's comeback effort was sparked by the crafty Loxley Thomas with five minutes to go before halftime. A very free Thomas latched on to a floating cross to power the ball past Waterhouse's Richard McCallum who was rooted to the spot.
The second-half introduction of the hard-working Marcelino Blackburn changed the complexion of the game entirely.
Three minutes after running on to the pitch, a Kemar Petrekin header flicked on to Blackburn would see him turn and fire past a diving McCallum to give his team the lead.
Spurred on, Harbour View began to dominate in terms of possession; they kept the ball and attacked with purpose when they went forward. Waterhouse, on the other hand, went flat and seemed to lack any real conviction in terms of their attacking play.
DEFENCE-SPLITTING PASS
The league leaders killed any hopes of Waterhouse getting a point from the fixture in the 80th minute. Striker Kevin King played a defence-splitting pass to Oneil Smith who then calmly slotted the ball around McCallum to ensure all three points.
"This is the first game that we are going behind this year and were able to come back and win," Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles said of the team's victory.
"We had lost the two previous to this. It's good as a coach to know we were able to overcome that," he said.
Hayles also looked forward to the end-of-round final against Arnett Gardens.
"It's always a good match whenever we play Arnett. We both play open and attacking football and the fact that there has to be a winner should make the game a spectators delight." he said."
GOALSHEET
Harbour View 3
Loxley Thomas - 40th, Marcelino Blackburn - 49th, Oneil Smith - 80th
Waterhouse 1
Jomo Gordon - 22
