Boys' Town coach Andrew Price felt he had reason to hold his head high on Sunday evening despite his team going down 1-3 to Waterhouse in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) and slipping a place down the table to fourth.

Jason Watson (eighth minute), Weston Forrest (20th) and Jermaine Anderson (73rd) scored for Waterhouse, while Carlos Wright registered a consolation goal for Boys' Town in the 59th minute.

The loss should not have been good news for the man who lost four senior players and major contributors to his team in leading scorer Rafiek Thomas, right wingback Xavian Virgo and midfielders O'Neil Thompson and Anthony Bennett to the transfer window in January.

That experience and production would have been vital to the Boys' Town assault on a top position in the league, but Price is getting "a lot of heart" from his remaining players.

"We lost this game, but I saw a number of positives that I can work with. This is a young group and they are very keen, so this is the core that we are working with. It is a talented group and one that played with a lot of heart," a relaxed Price said at the end of the game.

While he gave Waterhouse credit for taking their chances and winning the game, Price was of the view that had fortune been in their favour, the result would have been different.

MISSED CHANCES

"If we had put away the chances in the first half, then the result would have been much different. We got quite a few chances and struck the woodwork about three times, so with better luck, we would have done much better," he said, ruing the number of chances his players missed in the first half.

"We were much better in the second half. We opened them up quite a bit, but were unable to finish. But it is a performance to build on. We have not been playing badly and were on an unbeaten run of nine games in all competitions," he stated, adding that he saw enough to be happy about ahead of their next match at home to Sporting Central Academy.

PREPARATION

Waterhouse's Junior Francis, whose team took advantage of Boys' Town's failure to settle early, going up 2-0 in the first 20 minutes through strikes from Jason Watson in the eighth and Weston Forrest in the 20th minutes, credited his team's victory to preparation.

"Leading up to the match, we did a lot of intensive preparation as we identified certain things about their play. We got two early goals and capitalised on their weaknesses," he explained.

Having had a dip in form towards the end of the last round, Francis said getting three points was most important as they seek to get closer to the leaders.

Sunday's victory improved their standing to fifth position on 36 points.

"We really needed the three points and from here on, that will be our focus - three points," he added.

- Nodley Wright

Red Stripe Premier League Standings

Leading Goalscorers

Next Fixtures

Sunday, February 24, 2013, Match Day 25

3 p.m. Boys' Town vs Sporting Central Academy at Collie Smith Complex

5 p.m. Cavalier vs Savannah at Stadium East

3 p.m. Highgate United vs Arnett Gardens at Drax Hall Sports Complex

3 p.m. Humble Lion vs Montego Bay United at Effortville Community Centre

5 p.m. Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View at Edward Seaga Sports Complex

Monday, February 25, 2013

9 p.m. Portmore United vs Waterhouse at Ferdie Neita Park