Photo: Dwayne Smith (#11) sends Rushane Patterson the wrong way as he converts from 12 yards top secure all three points for UWI FC against Waterhouse FC on Sunday.
Marquee summer signing Dwayne Smith scored the all important goal to kickstart UWI’s 2016-2017 campaign on a positive note in the Red Stripe Premier League as they edged rivals Waterhouse FC 1-0 at the UWI Mona Bowl on Sunday.
The clash looked set to end in stalemate after a goalless first half, while the hosts saw Andrae Bernal squander a golden opportunity moments before he was brought down by Waterhouse custodian, Rushane Patterson after the break.
Waterhouse were made to pay, as Andrae Bernal got on the end of a sublime pass from Dwayne Smith, midway the attacking third. Bernal was direct, he drove into the box with only one intention, to score. but he was brought down in the box by the keeper after he had parried his initial shot.
Smith was trusted with the resulting penalty kick since their regular penalty taker, Girvon Brown, is in El Salvador on a football contract. The forward made no mistake, striking the ball firmly to the right of the keeper, sending the wrong way.
Coach Marcel Gayle put his trust in the players that finished 5th last term, with only one of the two new signing in the starting line up. Anthony Greenland, UWI’s prolific goal scorer last season, was not his clinical self as he missed a few easy chances.
The visitors fired the first warning shot within six minutes as Rafieke Bryan fired a thunderbolt which stung the palms of Amal Knight who parried the ball to safety. Nathaniel Leslie’s pace caused problems for UWI’s left-back early on, before Leslie tested Knight with a powerful header just after the 20-minute mark.
Greenland saw a chance go begging after being released in behind the Waterhouse defense, the former Harbour View striker could only scratch his head after his strike went harmlessly to goal keeper Patterson.
The visitor’s insisted on interchanging their wingers, but the move did not bear any fruits. They were able to get by the defenders down the by-line but their crosses were woefully inaccurate. Both teams lacked that cutting edge to spark some excitement to the evening’s proceedings.
Waterhouse dug deep and found a bit of fresh air late in the second half after coach Marvin Tate made a few changes and just when they thought they would get a penalty from a drive in the box by Leslie, it was waved away by the referee.
With ten minutes to go substitute, Rochane Smith made a darting run leaving a few players in his wake and should have put the game to bed but was closed down expertly by Theo Brown before he could get off a shot.
Waterhouse was left disappointed, leaving with a point, while the jubilant UWI spectators swarmed the field as they cheered on their team who made a better start than last season.
Waterhouse head coach Marvin Tate said: ” The team defended too deep at different periods of the game. We are a bit behind schedule in preparation, and a few other glitches prior to the game played to our detriment today. We have to be patient and allow the team to gel, they are young and it’s apart of the learning process. However, they are a talented bunch and I believe they will rise to our expectations.”
UWI assistant coach, Andrew Peart: ” The conditions are pretty humid, so it was mainly enduring some suffering throughout. We are not up to the physical standards that we would want to start the game with, nonetheless, we created more chances than Waterhouse. The key thing is to start well and maintain it though, and to better the 5th place finish last year”.
Scores in other games:
Boys Town 0 Humble lions 2
Harbour View 0 Tivoli Gardens 3
Portmore United 1 Jamalco FC 0
Arnett Gardens FC 0 Reno 0
Mobay United 1 Marverley/Hughenden 2
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