Photo: Romario Campbell does his best to protect the ball from Jashane Foster during the Red Stripe Premier League on Sunday. The game ended 2-2.
Struggling former champions Waterhouse FC let a two goal lead slip against SC Reno on Sunday when they were held 2-2 at home as action continued in the second round of the Red Stripe Premier League. A brace from young striker Andre Leslie, had given Waterhouse a comfortable first half lead. But a goal from Kayce Bromfield three minutes before the interval gave the visitors a life line before another telling blow in the final minute from the midfielder secured a point for the Michael Graham coached team.
The game came to life from the first minute of play when a long ball from Evan Taylor released Kemar Beckford down the left flank and Reno goalkeeper Devaughn Hawthorne raced off his line to challenge Beckford. Hawthorne was late on the challenge and gave away a free kick while he received a yellow card for the tackle.
The resulting free kick from Taylor was headed for the roof of the net but Hawthorne palmed over the crossbar for a corner kick.
Reno should have taken the lead shortly after when Rohan Amos failed to clear an innocuous long ball into the area and the loose ball fell kindly to Kavar Walker but the striker’s tame effort proved no threat to Richard McCallum’s goal.
Shortly after, Romario Campbell tried his luck from distance but it was an easy save for Hawthorn; however the Reno custodian was unable to deny Leslie in the 20th minute. The Reno defenders were unable to clear the ball from a corner kick and Leslie slotted home from close range.
Nine minutes before the interval, Leslie doubled his tally when he responded quickest to his own blocked effort from a melee and rammed home from close range. Two nil and Waterhouse were cruising at home and the fans were smiling.
But Bromfield started the Reno comeback in the 42nd minute, scoring with a fantastic looping effort that sailed into the roof of the net, despite McCallum getting his finger tips to the ball.
Leslie should have restored his team’s 2 goal lead on the stroke of half time when he was released by the influential Campbell, but he needed a firmer shot to beat Hawthorne.
Jamoly Powell saw his curling effort that was headed for the roof of the net tipped over for a corner kick early in the second half as the home team went in search of more goals after the break.
Afiba Chambers should have brought Reno level when he was presented with the easiest of chances from about 10 yards, but his miss hit effort, towards an empty goal, was hacked away by the recovering Taylor.
Substitute Denmark Gillings hit the crossbar with a free kick in the 63rd minute before the ball was turned behind for a corner. Chambers was left holding his head moments later as he saw his effort from the corner kick cleared off the line by Keith Wright. Reno was knocking on the door, but Waterhouse managed to stand firm.
Hawthorne was at it again, tipping a header from Powell over the crossbar as the home team tried to make the game safe.
Nine minutes before time, Waterhouse substitute Jermaine Anderson should have put the game to bed. His initial header was saved by Hawthorne but he missed badly from the rebound from about three yards.
It would prove costly, as Bromfield produced yet another stunning strike in the final minute of the game. The effort was similar to his first, outdoing McCallum yet again, despite the keeper getting his fingertips to the ball once more.
“We are very, very disappointed,” said a deflated Anthony Patrick. “We let Reno in the game to get a point when we could have killed off the game early. In the last 15 minutes of the game Anderson missed an easy chance, hence we let back Reno in the game.
The response from the Reno camp was one of disappointment as well despite claiming a late point.
“We created a lot of chances. That is what is lacking in this team, when we create the chances we are not putting them away,” a disgruntled Michael Graham stated. “It is evident today as you can see. If we had scored at least a third of our chances we would have come out victorious.
“But I think the guys played well, we know that this team has some grit inside of them, we went down in several games and we came back so we knew it wasn’t beyond us, we just have to follow instructions and apply ourselves, he concluded.
The draw means that Waterhouse have lifted themselves off the foot of the table to 11th position with 12 points while SC Reno is in 7th position with 16 points.
Rivoli United suffered defeat and slipped to the bottom of the table with their 11 points, while Portmore United who conquered the Spanish Town based team 3-2 has taken over sole leadership of the RSPL with 27 points after Montego Bay United were held 0-0 by the UWI.
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