By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse's Damion Powell (second right) fends off Hazard defender Claude Davis who charged in on him after goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers (on ground) collided with Powell and fell. Attempting to restrain Davis is Andre Hickling of Waterhouse while others in the picture from left are Tyrone Sawyers (also on ground), Anthony Modeste, Kevin Williams and Ricardo Smith at right. Hazard United won the game 4-2 on penalties to take the end of second round title. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
THE BURNING desire, fight and hard work of Waterhouse were not enough to give them victory in a fiercely contested end of second round final of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
Hazard doused the flames of the team dubbed "Firehouse" with a 4-2 win on penalties after 120 minutes failed to produce a winner in the game played at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Captain Kevin Deerr fittingly scored the final penalty to give his team victory. Also scoring for Hazard were Anthony Modeste, the competition's leading scorer Roen Nelson and Denzil Watson while Paul Young missed.
It was Hazard's first such final and for their victory they collected a booty of $150,000 and three bonus points while Waterhouse received $75,000 and one bonus point.
For Waterhouse Damion Powell and Michael Thompson scored. Weston Forrest had his effort saved, Desmond Breakenridge missed and a fifth player did not shoot as Deerr's strike ensured that Hazard would not be overtaken.
"I am elated," coach Lennie Hyde said after his team won on their first entry in an end of round final.
"I think we played a disciplined game. We controlled the midfield we made a lot of passes but in the final third of the game that is where we let down ourselves. We should have scored some goals and won in the duration of the 90 minutes," he continued.
As far as Waterhouse's Calvert Fitzgerald was concerned the ejection of captain Irvino English had a big impact on the outcome. "English is a quality player and our leading goalscorer so losing a player such as him would be a blow to any team and Hazard are a hard-running team," Fitzgerald said.
"We stuck it out and fought hard. We tried to bridge the gap and we brought it to penalties after 120 minutes. I think we played an excellent game but one team had to come out the winners so congratulations to Hazard. They won it deservedly."
It was a case of lightning not striking the same place twice for the losing team. Just four days ago they wore down Tivoli Gardens in the semi-finals of the Jackie Bell Knock Out competition before winning 4-3 on penalties.
Waterhouse's chances of a victory were severely dented by the 49th minute ejection of captain Irvino English for a second bookable offence for a late challenge on Kirk Ramsay. Before that time they were equal to everything that Hazard threw at them and even looked the better team at times.
They had the best effort on goal in the 36th minute when forward Roberto Fletcher struck a torrid right-footer on the run which connected with the crossbar and rebounded into play. Both teams moved the ball around well but both were guilty of giving up fouls just outside their goal areas.
With English gone in the second half Hazard took the action to Waterhouse who tried to hit on the counter. Waterhouse locked up the middle of the field and forced Hazard to attack down the flanks.
Deerr, Wolry Wolfe, Modeste and Ramsay in particular took the action to Waterhouse whose defensive column of Kirk Campbell, Roger Rodney and especially Michael Stone was rock solid. Whenever Waterhouse attacked it was either through the hard-running Fletcher or the skilful and dangerous Damion Williams.
With Hazard still having difficulty breaking down Waterhouse, they introduced the veteran Paul Young and Andrew Morrison for Kevin Williams and Ricardo Smith for a more attacking option. It gave them more thrust but still Waterhouse would not budge.
Three minutes later Waterhouse pulled out a tiring Vincent Earl and introduced Weston Forrest who looked lively in spurts. Hazard were lucky not to have a penalty awarded against them in the 79th minute when Claude Davis appeared to pull back Damion Powell who got around him in the box.
Four minutes later Deerr climbed high to connect with a cross from Ramsay but his effort was wide. With five minutes to go, Williams dismantled Derrick Smith down the right flank before being fouled outside the box. Powell teed up the ball for substitute Breakenridge who wasted the opportunity.
Young could have won the game for his team in time added but he sidefooted a pass from Wolfe wide.
In sudden death extra-time Waterhouse came out looking refreshed and just missed the target two minutes in when a bicycle from Fletcher flashed just wide. Eight minutes later then had goalkeeper Gregory Hall to thank for keeping out a blinder from the now more visible Nelson from inside the box.
The next best effort in this period was to fall to Nelson who stabbed wide with seven minutes remaining on the clock.
