Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
LAMEY
FORMER CHAMPIONS Waterhouse closed the gap on runaway leaders Harbour View to 11 points with an exciting 3-1 win over Wadadah in the feature game of a Wray and Nephew National Premier League double-header at Jarrett Park.
The second-placed team got their goals from midfielder Vincent Earle in the 14th minute, Jomo Gordon in the 67th minute and Kevin Lamey, the catalyst, in the 71st minute. Daniel Ricketts scored for Wadadah in the 29th minute.
In a slower-paced game than the opener, but nonetheless competitive, the visitors Waterhouse took the lead through a needlessly conceded free-kick for a foul committed by Olivia Trail a good distance from his goal. Waterhouse made them pay when Gordon headed the ball back across the right side of goal for Earle to swivel and drive home on the half-volley.
In the game which was quite open and free-flowing, especially in the first half, in the 26th minute the limping warrior Ricketts provided an opportunity for Jermaine Anderson to score but with only Waterhouse goalkeeper Maurice Evans to beat, the Wadadah striker side-footed for the first of his hat-trick of clear misses.
GOALKEEPER'S BRILLIANCE
Immediately after Waterhouse almost made them pay, but the brilliance of goalkeeper Gavine Barrett, which was on display all night, kept the scoreline the same.
Ricketts brought his team back in the game himself when he headed in a lovely cross from right back Zico Herrera.
Before the half could end Anderson would miss two more easy chances.
With Wadadah's legs fading in the second half and the introduction of Lamey, the game was soon over as a contest. Within three minutes of replacing left wingback Norado Jenkinson, he created a goal for starting striker Gordon.
Capitalising on a Wadadah error, Lamey dummied one member of the defence line, toed it past another, ran around him and sent a low, firm ball across the goal for Gordon to do the rest.
Lamey completed the job and killed off the contest in the 71st minute by dribbling through the tired defence and blasting past the helpless Barrett.
The good game was spoilt by the poor handling of an injury to Wadadah defender Leroy Housen and a fight in time added on by Preston Bernard and Damion Powell.
"I think we played a good game. It was a spirited performance from the team. I think we played with a lot of intensity," was how Wayne Fairclough, who filled in for the unavailable Calvert Fitzgerald, described the contest.
Wadadah's Allan Aarons, one of those who deputised for the suspended Anthony "Follies" Williams, appeared puzzled to come up with an explanation for his team's performance but suggested that they were found wanting in a number of areas.
"It is really hard to identify. We really have to lift our level both technically and in athleticism because I notice most teams are playing us at a faster pace and we are unable to keep up with them. Basically, we are coming second athletically and technically and some of the tactical parts of the game too," offered Aarons.
