1-0 Defeat of Waterhouse courtesy of Kavin Bryan’s early strike!
As the Club prepares to celebrate it’s 33rd Anniversary on Sunday, March 4th. The week ahead promises much added jubilation if the Team can cap of achievements with high performances following being already crowned End of First Round Champions in the Premier League in November 2006.
Firstly, in the Western Union KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout Final on Wednesday and then on Sunday we travel to St. Elizabeth to try and clinch victory over resurgent Reno in the End Of Second Round Premier League Final.
It was a sudden blow inside the far upright that decided the winner as early as the 4th minute. Quick thinking in reacting to the infringement on Bryan, the newly promoted National striker ended the game that had hardly begun, as he raced away from a stunned defensive unit caught napping as Robert Scarlett quickly took the awarded free-kick midway the half.
As former National defenders Marco McDonald and Desmond Breakenridge watched in dismay as he bolted from them to place his scorching left-footer out of reach of the surprised goalkeeper.
The Cheerleaders made merry, supporters chanted while the bench hailed the newest conqueror, dubbed “Titalinho”. Two other glorious chances went by as strike partner Fabian Taylor robbed Breakenridge in possession to advance goalwards but his early chip was well handled by the stranded custodian five minutes later.
Then twelve minutes later, Bryan was sent clear by a three man combination only to see his shot blocked with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
The half closed at the same 1-0 scoreline. Waterhouse attacked more in numbers but seemingly without conviction as a patient Harbour View occupied the territory behind the ball, choosing to counter-attack occasionally through a now emerging Kemeel Wolfe and a resurgent Lovel Palmer in tandem with twin strikers Bryan and Taylor.
Wolfe weaved his way through a maze of defenders to strike two torpedos that were well saved and Palmer finished high twice in quick succession, on the alternative right side. Bryan kicked wide and Taylor hit the upright that was copied by the now attacking Scarlett who struck twice from distance with his favoured left-foot, hitting the crossbar and his second bomb spilled from the goalkeepers grasp onto the upright before he hastily retrieved it on the bounce.
Some of the players showing clear signs of fatigue having just returned from the “Lunar Tournament” in Hong Kong with the National Team, Coach Hyde started ringing the substitutions by relieving Oniel Smith and Fabian Taylor.
On comes Loxely Thomas and Richard West both getting into the attacking action to launch shots at goal that were difficult to handle as both resulting in corners on the right. Scarlett was also to depart in favour of Gregory Simpson late in the game as Waterhouse looked dejected
leaving the field as the “Stars of the East” marched into Wednesday’s Final at 7pm, against defending Champions Boy’s Town, who earlier defeat Tivoli Gardens by a similar 1-0 scoreline.