By Paul Andre Walker, Staff ReporterWATERHOUSE, AFTER spending weeks in the doldrums of the Wray and Nephew Premier League, came to life under their new coach with a 1-0 victory over injury plagued Arnett Gardens at Drewsland yesterday.
Kevin Lamey, with a 21st minute strike, gave the home team an advantage that they would hold on to for the rest of the game. Waterhouse were the more intense team in the first half and Arnett had trouble stopping their crosses from the right flank.
It was one of those crosses from Damion Powell which saw Arnett go behind. The cross was hit right across the field to Demar Phillips who knocked the ball back into the box for an unmarked Lamey to easily slot home.
The game was marred by the serious injuring of Arnett star player, Kevin 'Pele' Wilson. Pele was the unfortunate victim of a clash of heads with Waterhouse's Roger Rodney, who like Wilson had to be taken to hospital for observation.
The game had to be stopped for at least five minutes to facilitate the care of the young players. At the time of the injury there wasn't an ambulance on location and Wilson had to be carried by car to the Medical Associates hospital where he was said to have regained consciousness but had no knowledge of what had occurred.
Rodney, on the other hand, while sporting the wound and the blood from the confrontation, never lost consciousness and seemed in better shape.
After the game, Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite, was critical of the officiating.
"It was a terrible game, very physical, and the referee failed to take control of the game early and that's why it got out of hand," Waite said. The loss itself, Waite attributed to a lack of personnel that has plagued the team all season.
"If you notice, five of our regular players weren't here. The team that came out here today put up a sterling fight but it wasn't enough," said Waite.
Newly-appointed Waterhouse coach Kenneth Bop Campbell wasn't completely satisfied with his team's performance.
"The football that we play in training we didn't come out and play it. Everybody wanted to make the final pass but it will come," he said. Adding that, "Come time, Waterhoue will be there."
Tivoli Gardens on a roll
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
TIVOLI GARDENS won their 10th consecutive Wray & Nephew National Premier League (NPL) game yesterday when they sank Constant Spring 2-0 at the Railway Oval with two quick goals in the second half.
Christopher Jackson (58th) and Roland Dean (63rd) lifted Tivoli to 57 total points and 12 from four games in the third round to remain atop the standings. Tivoli's streak dates back to the second round where they edged Reno 1-0 out west in December.
Constant Spring's coach Geoffery Maxwell spent most of the game hanging his head after a series of disappointing plays by his team.
"I thought we could have possibly drawn the game in the second half and taken a point," said Maxwell, "but the discipline broke down in the second half."
"There was a goalkeeping error in the period and the first goal demotivated the team," he said.
That goalkeeping error was by Leighton Murray who left the near post open to Jackson, who is known for his accurate and powerful free-kicks, and he made no mistake from 20 yards out from the right side.
"Tivoli showed their superiority in terms of experience," Maxwell stated.
Constant Spring have 29 points with four in the third round.
Five minutes after Jackson's strike, Dean was at the end of a well-executed play for his team's second goal. Denroy Gordon, on the left side of the 18-yard box, found Steve Green lurking next to the far post who then headed the ball back across the area for Dean who had no problems finishing.
"A team that is aiming to become the champions always play to win," said Tivoli's coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.
"And that is how we are approaching it and it is paying dividends."
Crucial win for Seba
Richard Morais, Freelance Writer
SEBA United edged Village 1-0 the Wray & Nephew National Premier League at the Elliston Wakeland Sports Complex in Falmouth to get a clutch on the proverbial straw, in staying on track to prevent relegation.
Rupert Lewin's 36th minute strike did the trick for the victors, following a good play by Jermaine "Tuffy" Anderson.
Anderson's quick burst down the left flank saw him dismissing a defender in the process and subsequently squaring the ball to open the opportunity for Lewin.
Village's Warren Ukah, the strong teenage American who in previous collisions was always able to be the one standing, didn't do that this time and received five stitches after a clash yesterday.
He and an opponent went up for a ball in the 15th minute causing both heads to collide. He was taken away to the nearby Falmouth Hospital where he received the stitches. He, however, returned to the bench before the end of the game.
With a heavy wind affecting play, both teams failed to adjust, opting for the high ball and not trying to string passes together.
Village, interestingly, handled conditions better and created more scoring chances.
Reno edge Cosmos
Devon Evans, Freelance Writer
OCHO RIOS:
FORMER CHAMPIONS Reno, led by a goal from Martin Williams in the fourth minute, edged Star Cosmos by one 1-0 in their Wray & Nephew National Premier League encounter at Drax Hall yesterday.
Following a lacklustre first half, the second half began with Reno looking more purposeful but wasted a clear opportunity to score in the 50th minute when forward Kirk Wright, having only goalkeeper Ralston Robinson to beat, made a tame shot which deflected off the 'keeper which was hastily cleared by Star Cosmos defender Dean Soley.
As the game progressed, Reno continued to have the better of play with Wright leading the charge on the Star Cosmos goal but found his shooting to be far from accurate.
Star Cosmos were able to penetrate the strong tackling Reno defenders a couple of times but found national goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence well positioned each time.
Following a series of attacks and counterattacks by both teams, Star Cosmos won the ball in the Reno goal area in the 78th minute but the combination of forwards Layton McDonald and Oniel Radcliffe was put to waste.
Star Cosmos' best chance of equalising came in the 85th minute when Andre Lawson collected a ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and fired a powerful shot which Lawrence had to dive to his right in order to stop the ball from crashing into the goal.
Star Cosmos were also unlucky in the 90th minute when a shot from McDonald hit the cross bar to the disappointment of his teammates and supporters.
During the game referee Peter Davis issued yellow cards to Sheries Ellis and Tanardo Copeland of Star Cosmos and goal scorer Martin Williams of Reno for rough play.
