Photo: Jermaine Anderson of Waterhouse FC tries to the defend the ball from Carlos Wright of Boys Town in their 0-0 draw in the Red Stripe Premier League at Drewsland on Sunday.
Waterhouse FC and Boys Town FC played out an exciting stalemate at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium on Sunday as both teams ended up sharing the points in an enthralling contest in front of a full house at Drewsland. Both teams would have hoped for all three points ahead of the two weeks break for the Caribbean Cup which started on Tuesday, but in the end had to settle for a draw in a game that could have gone either way.
The game was only four minutes old when Boys Town’s, Carlos Wright picked up the first yellow card of the game for a hard foul on overlapping wing back Oshane Roberts. The challenge incensed the crowd and added spice to a contest that was expected to sizzle.
The first dangerous moment in front of goal came when Boys Town goal keeper Kirk Porter bravely dived at the feet of Adoah Nickle to snuff out a good chance for the home team.
It was the away team that would grab control of the midfield however, through the efforts of, Marvin Stewart, Garfield Gillespie, Asrick Samuels and Michael Campbell. The Red Brigade took advantage of a flat Waterhouse midfield and created numerous opportunities to score in the first half.
A quick counter-attack in the 16th minute led to the first in a series of gilt-edged chances for Boys Town.
A Marvin Stewart pass into the left channel for Rafiek Thomas was then played into the path of Shamar Nicholson but the tall centre forward failed to make good contact with the ball, presenting an easy save for Kelso Cousins in goal.
Another good chance was wasted ten minutes later when a free kick from Campbell to the back post was headed back across goal by Nicholson for defender Anthony Dawes but he booted the ball high over the crossbar from close range.
Boys Town continued to boss possession in midfield, almost giving the impression that it was their home game. In the 33rd minute, Stewart showed good feet to get by two defenders but his shot on target was a weak one and easy for Cousins yet again.
The midfield duo of Evan Taylor and Damarley Samuels was being forced to drop deep to get hold of the ball and try to engineer something for Waterhouse.
Three minutes before half time, Samuels almost played in Jermaine Anderson but his diagonal pass over the top was just out of the reach of the striker.
Boys Town had the last chance of the first half and was left wondering how it was still 0-0 at the break.
Another counter through the left channel let in Thomas who slowed up proceedings when speed was needed most. His eventual shot was parried by Cousins and after a scramble in the box, a header from Gillespie was just tipped over the crossbar by Cousins as the half somehow ended 0-0.
Waterhouse came out looking more purposeful in the second half and Porter was called into action in the 52nd minute when he had to punch away a stinging effort from Damion Binns.
Three minutes later Nicholson spurned yet another opportunity when he shot wide of the upright from close range.
The entire Boys Town bench was left holding their heads on minute 60 when a ball across the face of goal was missed by three players and when it was eventually played back into the area Cousins pulled off and acrobatic save to push Nicholson’s header unto the post, before having a go at his static defenders.
Boys Town was knocking hard at the door and Waterhouse was just about answering the questions being asked of them.
Two minutes later it was the visitors turn to defend. A Tremaine Stewart free kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Roberts and the resulting Juvaune Benjamin shot on goal was scrambled off the line by the Boys Town defence.
The tempo of the game was picking up and a neat give and go between Samuels and Stewart ended with Benjamin being played in, but an alert Porter was out in a flash to deny the striker.
With 20 minutes to go, second half substitute Peter Keyes had the goal at his mercy but shot wide of the target, after being released with a brilliant pass by Thomas over the top of the Waterhouse defence.
Both teams continued to hunt for goals and Pierre McPherson was lucky not to turn the ball into his own net when trying to cut out a cross from Anderson, with just under fifteen minutes left to play.
With the clock winding down, Samuels almost got his name on the score sheet when Anderson played him in after receiving a good pass from Benjamin but Porter was again off his line in a flash to snuff out the danger.
Three minutes from time, Keys had another chance to grab the winner but his unchallenged snapshot from inside the area went sailing over the crossbar.
Waterhouse substitute Jamoly Powell could have had his name up in lights when a chance was laid on a platter for him by Anderson, but his tame effort on target presented no problems for Porter in the final minute of the game.
Waterhouse coach Anthony Patrick was thankful for the point in the end, “I am a bit disappointed in the team’s performance. We started out the game very flat, but we stepped up the tempo in the second half and created a few chances.
“But the Boys Town team played a very good game today (Sunday) and came close to winning the game. So in the end I am thankful for the point.”
Andrew Price was pleased with his team’s performance despite not getting the win, “We created a number of gilt-edged chances and with a little luck could have won the game. If we had put away some of our chances we could have won the game handsomely.
“But to come to the home of the leaders and one of the best teams in the Caribbean and put in such a performance is good for the team. We are improving and starting to gel, so we will continue to work hard and get better as the season progresses.”
Waterhouse sit atop the table with 20 points, while Boys Town who now have eight points still sit just above the drop zone in 10th place.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login