Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse Irvino English (back to camera) hugs Craig White as teammates Desmond Breakenridge (left) and Kevin Lamey join the celebration of a penalty goal converted by English during their Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) match against Arnett Gardens at the National Stadium on Sunday. Waterhouse won 3-2. -
Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
FOR THE second week in succession, Waterhouse FC cooled a hot team, this time coming from behind twice to snatch a thrilling 3-2 win over Arnett Gardens in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League game at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Goals by Irvino English (36th), Kevin Lamey (75th) and Kirk Ramsay (86th) secured three valuable points for the Drewsland-based team that edged Portmore United 1-0 last week.
Jonathan Williams (15th) and Patrick Graham (70th) had twice given Arnett Gardens the lead. But just like their lead, Arnett's chances of reaching the End-of-Round final whittled away.
Waterhouse now have 21 points, five behind leaders Portmore United, who have already qualified for the second End-of-Round final and, more importantly, the same amount as Tivoli Gardens who whipped Harbour View 3-1.
Arnett Gardens who started the second round red hot, remain on 17 points.
Winning coach Peter Cargill said: "It was a nerve-racking game. It was very tense but we were playing very well and we should have scored on a couple of occasions but eventually we got our act together and scored and it was a deserved win because we played well."
What has been most remarkable about Waterhouse's last two victories is the fact that they have done so without at least five regular starters in Demar Phillips, Damion Powell, Oneil Robinson, Richard Edwards and Loxley Reid.
GOOD SQUAD
"Those players have been out for about a month now but we have a good squad and it has been serving us well with our rotations. We can't just operate with 11 players," said Cargill.
"At all levels, we have been lifting our game to suit the opponent. What you put in you will get. We have been working hard and improving. Once we continue in that vein, the sky's the limit," he added.
Meanwhile, the vibes in the Arnett Gardens' dressing room was one of disbelief as the players and coaching staff were left stunned .
"Losing this one kind of takes us out of the End-of-Round final," said a dejected Michael Tulloch, one of Arnett's coaches.
"The actual premier league is not over. The major objective is to reach the final of the premier league," said Tulloch, as Jerome Waite, another coach, stared into oblivion.
