Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse goalscorers Irvino English (right) and Roberto Fletcher celebrate their team's first goal, which was netted by English, in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League match against Rivoli United at Spanish Town Prison Oval on March 5. Waterhouse won 2-1. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WATERHOUSE HAS finally got their nose in front and have the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) title firmly in their sights after being blurred by Harbour View all season.
Many persons questioned the new league format at the start of the season. But with four rounds to go, two teams are left in an exciting and desperate fight to lift the crown. Waterhouse have 59 points with four games to go, while Harbour View sit on 58 points with five games remaining.
TITLE DECIDER
In what is shaping up to be a dream final round battle, both Harbour View and Waterhouse will clash at Drewsland in what could be the title decider.
On Sunday Waterhouse for the first time took over the lead with a clinical 2-1 victory over Seba, while their rivals Harbour View succumbed at their Compound home ground to Reno 1-2 in the night game.
Both camps remain optimistic and are eyeing the $1 million prize money in a highly pressurised final set of games.
Wayne Fairclough, coach of Waterhouse, said the feeling is good, but tense to finally grab the lead after relentlessly chasing Harbour View all season.
"It is a good feeling, but also a tense feeling in the air. But it is far from over," Fairclough told The Gleaner yesterday.
COACH OPTIMISTIC
With expectations comes pressure and Waterhouse will feel what Harbour View was feeling all season, but the coach is optimistic the players will rise to the occasion.
"It is left to be seen, but the players are willing, focused and ready. It is up to us and the spectators to do the job," said Fairclough, who was voted Coach of the Month for December.
The championship could go down to the final game at Drewsland in a fairytale script.
"You couldn't ask for anything better than this. The script, the pundits and the organisers would have wanted a grand finale. If it goes that far it would be good and excellent but if we can do it before it would be even better," said Fairclough.
Meanwhile Donovan Hayles, coach of Harbour View, has seen his team blow a 15-point lead and for the first time this season is knocked off the top of the standings.
"We gave up a perfect chance to maintain our advantage in the competition and have made it a daunting task," said Hayles.
APPLYING THEMSELVES
"I had a very hearty team talk after the game, reassuring them that they have the quality to go all the way. So it is a matter of them now applying themselves," he added. "The whole league format is bearing fruits. There is no prediction that every year the league will be as close as it is to this year. For a matter of fact, if we hadn't blundered along the way it would not be this close," he pointed out. It can be an anti-climax with five rounds to go, but we wouldn't mind making it an anti-climax by winning early out."
Harbour View will play their rescheduled game against Portmore United on March 29, and will play Wadadah at home Constant Spring away, Boys' Town at home and Waterhouse away.
