Waheem Walker’s stunning strike midway the first half is the match winner!
Newly drafted in the January 2008 Transfer Window the midfielder, Waheem Walker silenced the fair sized crowd at the Compound tonight when his scorching 17 yards volley from his right foot slammed into the nylon netting to be recognized as the match winner. The right-sided corner from Jermaine Hue was headed on beyond the far post by a host of green neon-coloured Waterhouse defenders into the path of Walker, who with eyes steadfastly fixed on the ball volleyed sweetly in one smooth motion into the far side of the net through a host of players from both teams.
His obvious joy burst out all over his face as his teammates rushed towards him in celebration of his first goal for his new club…little did he know it was to become the eventual match winner.
Earlier striker, Kavin Bryan failed to unleash a shot from a half chance inside the area as the opponents defense scrambled it away to safety. Newton Sterling’s 27 yards left-footed freekick smashed against the right upright beating the diving Michaud Barrett in goal. The rebound fell to central defender Marco McDonald, whose thunderbolt from 19 yards whizzed wide of the post as Barrett hurried back to his feet.
The cautious Harbour View held their defensive positions well to maintain the positive scoreline at the break. The disciplined approach of the homesters were to be more deeply entrenched in the second half as no risks were taken hence no goals conceded even when goalkeeper Barrett was replaced by the National goalkeeper, Dwayne Miller after 37 minutes due to a thigh injury caused by a collision in the penalty area.
Referee Raymond Bogle struggled all night to make the right decisions but left many doubts around the stadium about his rulings. Attackers, Bryan and Rafiek Thomas worked hard all night but failed to penetrate goalwards, as Hue then substitute, Marcellino Blackburn and ace midfielder, Richard Edwards offerings all came up short.
Waterhouse seemed unsure how to solve the defensive puzzle until the whistle ended the game as substitutes, Damion Powell, Mario Harrison and young Jahmali Spence’s injection never bothered Harbour View any more than the numerous strange refereeing calls against the host.
None resulted in goals even as the last one sailed over the crossbar in the 90th minute.