[ad_1]
THE ONLY meeting between city rivals Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens last year ended with points shared. With fans of both teams returning to Sabina Park to see the latest chapter, Waterhouse survived a late scare to push themselves to the top of the Jamaica Premier League standings. For now.
They outlasted Tivoli 2-1 in their Jamaica Premier game yesterday, starting the first of two weekends of games at Sabina Park with fully vaccinated fans getting another opportunity to watch their teams.
Cardell Benbow needed only sixth minutes to open the scoring for Waterhouse and Denardo Thomas added what proved to be the winner in the 40th minute, as Tivoli could not cope with their first-half attacking blitz. Tivoli captain Barrington Bryce reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute and despite an attacking thrust in the final 15 minutes, could not salvage a point.
The result was a relief for assistant coach Damion Gordon who praised the team’s steely resolve after the momentum swung Tivoli’s way after the penalty.
“I tell you, I must commend them. (They showed) good character. (Tivoli) made some adjustments They made some good changes as well. We did extremely well in the wide areas and we got two goals,” Gordon said.
“We dropped our level in the second half and it showed. But we were victorious in how organised we were.
Waterhouse are now on top of the table with 20 points, three more than Mount Pleasant and Arnett Gardens, who face each other this afternoon
Cognisant of the three-way battle developing at the top, Gordon says that their temporary hold on first place cannot be a crutch to drop their levels.
FOCUSED AND HUMBLE
“(Being) in the lead is one thing. It’s just three points because really the other teams are very close. So we have to be focused and we have to be humble,” said Gordon.
It was not the ideal return to the sidelines that Tivoli Gardens head coach Phillip Williams envisioned after serving a two-game ban which was further compounded when Dascha Satchwell was sent off in the 90th minute for a dangerous challenge.
While lamenting the lack of cover on the wings which led to their first-half setback, Williams said their recent performances against the top two teams in the league proved they are not far off the pace
“The team really pushed forward and even with going a man down, I think we did well in playing until the end,” Williams said.
“If you look back at the games that we have lost they weren’t by wide margins, so we know that we have the quality and with nine games in, the team is gelling.
Meanwhile, a 51st-minute strike from Colorado Murray saw Harbour View edge Vere United 1-0 in the second game of the double-header.
Vere United head coach Donovan Duckie was left irate at the level of officiating by referee Nerissa Goldson.
“The game was not about the players. What did we see today(yesterday), it was one team on the pitch. The referee was the person of the match. She was the star. She was the main attraction,” Duckie said.
Daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com
[ad_2]
Source link
