Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Veteran Theodore Whitmore weaved his magic for Seba against NPL champions Waterhouse at the National Stadium on Monday night. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TWO BRILLIANT perfor-mances from players heading in opposite directions stole the show during Monday's first-leg Wray and Nephew Knockout Cup doubleheader at the National Stadium.
Veteran Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore of Seba and young Dicoy Williams of Arnett Gardens had the National Stadium buzzing with excitement.
Whitmore turned in a dazzling performance as he toyed with the opposing players, helping his team to a comprehensive 3-1 whipping of Waterhouse.
It was magical stuff from one of Jamaica's most talented players of his generation.
In one moment of brilliance he dipped his left shoulder and shimmied the other way, leaving the hard-tackling Craig White grasping and kicking at thin air.
Seba had to come from behind to beat the reigning National Premier League (NPL) champions. Sean Coleman had given Waterhouse the lead in the 67th minute bundling home the ball from a goalmouth melee.
But Seba rallied and substitute Delroy Ellis slotted home from a freekick after being on the field for only three minutes in the 78th.
Three minutes later, the MoBay team went ahead after a dreadful mis-kick by Michael Stone allow Kemar James to fire home in the 81st minute.
The third came after brilliant work by Whitmore to set up Damian Williams in the 85th minute to set up an intriguing second leg tomorrow at Drewsland.
Seba coach Peter Hurge said his team came with a game plan and the players stuck to it.
"The last time we played them we realised that we could score at least two or three goals and we knew we could win by a good margin," said Hurge.
Losing coach Wayne Fairclough said his substitutions didn't help much and the players allowed Whitmore much too much space.
"Seba played well for the last 20 minutes and our game went to pieces when we stopped marking Theodore. We contained him for 70 minutes but being the quality player that he is, he made us pay for it," said Fairclough.
Meanwhile, Dicoy Williams, stole the show for the 'Junglists' who were playing with 10 men for the last 30 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw with Harbour View.
Williams, a member of Arnett's under-21 team, started the day as a sweeper but finished the game as the goalkeeper.
Arnett had made all their three changes when goalkeeper Julian McLeish got injured and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken rib.
Williams, who played for Mona High two seasons ago in the Manning Cup as a midfielder, volunteered for the goalkeeping position and won the hearts of the spectators.
Harbour View struck early when Leon Strickland converted in the sixth minute. Arnett Gardens levelled the score in the 44th via a Kierald McLeod penalty.
The Stars of the East went in front again courtesy of an own goal by Jerry Walters in the 67th but Kevin Wilson pulled Arnett level with an 84th minute header.
The return legs take place on Thursday when Seba travel to Waterhouse and Harbour View host Arnett Gardens.
GOALSHEET
SEBA 3
Delroy Ellis 78th
Kemar James 81st
Damian Williams 85th
WATERHOUSE 1
Sean Coleman 65th
ARNETT GARDENS 2
Kierald McLeod 44th
Kevin Wilson 84th
HARBOUR VIEW 2
Leon Strickland 6th
Own Goal 67th
