Harbour View off the mark

Harbour View scored a dramatic come from behind 2-1 win over Waterhouse at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) football competition last night, to register their first win in four matches.

Colorado Murray gave host team Waterhouse a fourth-minute lead, but late goals from Rohan Brown (86th) and Trayvone Reid (90+6) gave the Stars of the East a much needed win.

Nashon Bolt was ejected in time added for Waterhouse, after picking up a second yellow card.

Harbour View's head coach Bjorn Thomas said that the win is a big boost, and they will have to keep pushing for more victories.

"Today the kids showed what I know they have. And they played 90 minutes, which I have been asking them (to do)," Thomas said.

"We have to keep the focus and push hard. This is just one win and we need a few more. But this is belief for the players because we beat an in-form Waterhouse team, and it was not an easy feat. I am proud of the lads."

He was, however, especially pleased with the contribution of captain Reid, who had a goal and an assist on the night, and has been responsible for the last four goals the team has scored.

"Everybody knows Trayvone's talent. I think he is going to do something good this season. But we are just going to take it one step at a time," Thomas said.

BEST START

Waterhouse got off the best possible start, courtesy of a blunder by goalkeeper Garwin Davis, who passed the ball straight to Murray inside the penalty box area, and the forward lifted the ball over Davis to score the opener.

Shamari Dyer had a good chance from a free kick, but he planted his header just wide of the frame.

Garth Stewart also had a glorious chance to level the score in the 33rd minute, but he headed wide from within six yards, with the goal at his mercy.

Rohan Brown came even closer in the last minute of the half, but his ferocious shot hit the underside of the bar and rebounded into play.

Waterhouse were the better team at the start of the second half, creating four good openings in the first 10 minutes of the half, the best of which fell to Javane Bryan, who kicked straight to Akeem Bernard from 12 yards.

Moments later, Harbour View had a chance of their own, when Reid picked out Omar Thompson inside the six-yard box, but he redirected wide of the mark.

Reid also had a great chance a few minutes after, but placed his effort wide of the upright.

Oquassa Chong then had a golden opportunity on the 79th minute, but put his header wide of the goal.

Then came a chance at the other end, and Murray should have extended Waterhouse's lead, after cutting inside his marker from the left, but his weak shot was no trouble for Davis.

With the game going from end to end, and both teams creating chances, it was Harbour View who got the lucky break with 10 minutes remaining, when the Waterhouse defence fell asleep after Reid's pass and allowed Brown to ghost in behind and stab home from three yards.

Brown again came close to scoring a few minutes later, but he lifted the ball over the bar, while under pressure.

Then in a dramatic twist at the end, Harbour View were awarded a penalty in time added when Bolt hacked down Stewart in the box, resulting in a penalty and his second yellow, which Reid expertly converted to put Harbour View 2-1 up.

"We knew they would come out and try to get the equaliser (in the) second half," said Waterhouse's assistant coach, Jermaine Miller.

"We talked about keeping the lead and trying to extend the lead. We got many chances and should have done so. Then in the latter stages we gave away too much possession and it cost us the game," he said.

"But it's just a lapse in concentration. The ball played in the box was an easy ball to clear and we just lapsed."

In the opening game, Dunbeholden defeated Molynes United 2-0 on a Nicholas Nelson (18th minute) penalty and Clive Wedderburn's 79th-minute strike.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com