Photo: Waterhouse striker Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson protects the ball from Barbican defender Shawn Lawes
Premier League strugglers, Barbican FC saw their fairytale run in the KSAFA Jackie Bell Knock-Out competition come to a dramatic and brutal end, at the final hurdle, when they were beaten 3-2 by Waterhouse FC at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium last Thursday.
The game was arguably not one of the most thrilling Cup finals of the decade but was entertaining nonetheless as Waterhouse FC came back from 2-1 down at half-time to clinch the win in stoppage time.
Matches between these sides have mustered some of the most exciting games in recent history, from incredible comebacks to last-minute equalizers, to thumping victories – this is a contest which has rarely disappointed.
Keno Simpson and Andrew Christie then pulled the strings to expert effect to set-up Lennox Russell and Dean Philips.
After a thrilling 7-2 victory over arch rivals Harbour View FC in the premier league the previous Sunday, Waterhouse FC came into the game on cloud nine while Barbican, lying face down at the foot of the pile of the premier league were desperate for a win.
Firehouse Damarley Samuels opened the scoring with a cheeky finish after a mix up with goalkeeper Shaven Paul and his defender Shawn Lawes as they dominated the early proceedings.
Keno Simpson and Andrew Christie then pulled the strings to expert effect to set-up Lennox Russell and Dean Philips to give Barbican an unlikely lead.
In the 30th minute Keno Simpson did all the hard work leaving two Waterhouse players on their buttock but his effort went in the side netting. With moments like these there were telling signs that something was about to happen.
Waterhouse took their feet of the gas and was given a rude awakening when Dean Phillips whipped a corner kick in from the left side that miraculously found its way to the back of the net in the 31st minute.
This goal gave the Barbican team the lift they needed. Firehouse came under tremendous pressure and if it wasn’t for poor shooting or poor final decisions they would have been out and wounded long before the first half finished.
In minute 36 Keno Simpson was in the thick of things again firing ferociously at George Brown who coughed up a rebound to Lennox Russell who pounced on the loose ball like a tiger pouncing on its prey, to fire home from close range.
The whistle for the halftime break couldn’t have come at a better time to take Waterhouse out of their slumber.
Waterhouse started the second half just as how they ended the first. Meanwhile Barbican were making the best of a well deserving lead. In minute 48 Philips helded his head and looked to the starry night sky in disbelief as his well taken free kick kissed the crossbar like a groom kissing his bride.
Moments later, the inform Russell sent Parris on to a one v one with Brown but his chip was a little too heavy and it went over the bar for a goal kick.
With time ticking away, anxiety and desperation started to kick in with the fans. The tactical Anthony Patrick used his expertise and ingenuity to inject some purpose and intent to the game by making two changes. This paid dividend late in the second half when captain Romario Campbell swung a cross in with pin point accuracy to Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson who finished it off with a thumping header.
A timely goal like that was like a strong shot of drug to all the players coaching staff and spectators who were pretty fired up. What was the Barbican trio show of Russell, Simpson and Phillips immediately turned the “Rum Rum” show. He was fouled 9 times in the final period. He was double and triple teamed on several occasions leaving pockets of spaces for other players to slip in.
If Barbican was to curse their luck then destiny was definitely in the hands of Waterhouse. This was proven in time added on when twinkle toes Campbell cut back brilliantly to dismiss his marker and played a sublime pass through to Tremiane Stewart whose very weak shot slipped through goalkeeper’ fingers and through his legs before bobbling into the back of the net.
Captain Romario ‘Rum Rum’Campbell said after the game that ” it was a very tough game and congratulations to my team. Barbican didn’t came to lay back as such they went ahead but we know what we can do so we came out in the second half and knock around the soccer and play some good football. In the second half we did just what our coach asked of us. He told us to go out there and express ourselves.”
Antony Patrick coach of Waterhouse was delighted to claim his first piece of silverware for the season.
“We got a little too cocky when we scored the first goal and allowed Barbican to start dictating the play. After a welcome halftime break we get at the players in the dressing room and asked them to play with a little more intensity.
“We made two changes that were very very crucial. We pulled the left back and ask Damarley Samuels to play left back and instructed Evan Taylor to give most of the balls down that left flank to him. We have been scoring a lot of goals, so I knew we had a little more in our tank. All in all it was a good victory thanks to the guys and well tried Barbican, it was a gutsy performance from them.”
Marvin Tate coach of Barbican was proud of his troops despite them being unable to hold of for their first ever win in the competition.
” I thought we played a very tactical game today. We know that Waterhouse has a very strong midfield, we neutralized their midfield and scored two goals in the process but we just failed to hold on. We played our hearts out but got nothing in return. That’s just how the game is. I think a forced change by pulling out an injured Christie that’s where we lost the game.”
It was a welcome win for Waterhouse who lost their All-Island Knock-Out title without kicking a ball, due to a Chick-V ravaged squad last year.
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