Audley Boyd, Assistant Sports Editor
WATERHOUSE remained on course to secure an amazing comeback championship victory in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) with a 3-1 win over Montego Bay's Wadadah at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium on Thursday night.
Also called 'Firehouse', the home team made a burning start and led by two goals by the quarter-mark with strikes from Jomo Gordon at the sixth minute and Damion Williams in the 19th.
"It's the high intensity that we started with in the first 35 minutes or thereabouts, I think that paid dividends for us," Waterhouse's coach Wayne 'Kunta' Fairclough observed. "They were never ever able to understand what we were doing. Our tactical play was perfect."
They effectively stifled Wadadah for three-quarters of the match and got a third when league-leading marksman Kevin Lamey, who came off the bench at the 61st minute, scored a penalty at the 70th minute, his 19th goal of the season. Referee Courtney Campbell rewarded Waterhouse with the spot kick after Weston 'Barney' Forrest was cut down by Christopher Currie in the box.
GOAL CHARTS
Outstanding scorer Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson, who is third in the goal charts despite his team lagging in 10th place, netted his 14th and team's only goal at the 83rd minute. It was the third time in as many meetings this season that Waterhouse were inflicting a 3-1 win over Wadadah.
The maximum points earned lifted the Drewsland team to 65 points, two ahead of Harbour View which once led the standings by a massive 13 points.
Only two rounds are left for the completion of the league title race, which sees Waterhouse tackling already relegated Constant Spring - 11th on 24 points in the 12-team standings - in their next fixture on Sunday.
"We're nearing the title; we've done a good title chase but the race is not over as yet," noted Fairclough after the match. "The race is still on, we've two more miles, two steps, the journey is two miles so I think we have to try to defeat the other two teams - Constant Spring and Harbour View - and cop the title."
FINAL ROUND MATCH-UP
The chase seems headed for the wire with a dream final round match-up between the only remaining contenders, even though victory for Waterhouse and a lesser result for Harbour View in the next round would signal a wrap-up.
Despite Constant Spring's lowly position, however, Fairclough says the fixture is not as easy as it appears because their uptown rivals from the top of Constant Spring Road have always given them a torrid time.
"Playing Constant Spring on Sunday I think it will be an interesting affair," he said. "It's a good derby. Over the years they've brought out the best in Waterhouse and I think this time it will be no different. I think we need to win that game and hopefully by three to four goals," added Fairclough, whose team created scoring chances all night Thursday.
GOALSHEET
Waterhouse 3
Jomo Gordon 6th
Damion Williams 19th
Kevin Lamey 70th
Wadadah 1
Jermaine Anderson 83rd
