Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
WATERHOUSE SUCCUM-BED to the pressure of expectations and stumbled to a 1-0 defeat to Tivoli Gardens in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) encounter at Drewsland on Wednesday.
Waterhouse, unbeaten in 16 NPL games, turned in an uninspiring home performance and missed the chance of going top of the NPL for the first time this season as leaders Harbour View were idle.
However, Waterhouse's poor performance must be credited to Tivoli Gardens, who produced probably their best tactical and disciplined game of the season.
National player Fabian Davis scored the winner in the 13th minute when he curled a beautiful free kick past a motionless Maurice Evans in goal from just outside the box.
So easy was Davis' effort that he made it look like a penalty kick and enhanced his reputation as the best dead-ball kicker in the country.
Waterhouse, who have chased Harbour View relentlessly over the past two months and reduced the massive lead from 13 points to just two, remain on 52 points just behind the leaders who now have a game in hand and can extent that lead to five.
Wayne Fairclough, coach of Waterhouse, said he was not satisfied with his team's performance after squandering the opportunity to go top of the league.
"I am very disappointed, but such is life for the moment. We have fall, but when you fall, you'll have to rise again and do much better in the next game," Fairclough said.
"I think we played a good game here today, but Tivoli Gardens coming here today knowing that they had to win for second position played some good football. They deserved to win. They had the better of play in the middle and took the chance," he said.
Tivoli Gardens have now consolidated third position on 42 points, 12 behind the leaders, and still harbour thoughts of winning the league.
In context, it was an impressive display without the injured pair of Jermaine Johnson and Christopher Nicholas and if this Tivoli team stays healthy, don't be surprised if they turn the NPL into a three-team race.
Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, coach of Tivoli Gardens, was more than happy and pointed out that his team won't be giving any team a joy ride as the title challenge was very much on.
"Mathematically, there is still the realisation of finishing second or even winning. We are playing hard to win the remaining games and see if Water-house allows us to overrun them or Harbour View fall down. If they falter along the way we shall be there," said Bailey.
GOALSHEET
Waterhouse 0
Tivoli Gardens 1
(Fabian Davis 13th)
