Duckie wanted more as Waterhouse clip Arnett

It was important for us to win this first leg, we wanted the advantage, but if we were a little more composed in front of goal, I think we could have put away the tie from the first leg.

It’s advantage Waterhouse after last night’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) first-leg semifinal against Arnett Gardens at the Drewsland Stadium.

Tremaine Stewart netted the game’s only goal 55 minutes into the contest, however, coach Donovan Duckie thought they had enough chances to put the tie to bed from the first leg.

“It was important for us to win this first leg, we wanted the advantage, but if we were a little more composed in front of goal, I think we could have put away the tie from the first leg,” Duckie said afterwards.

In a high tempo first half, both teams traded good attacks, although the home team had the better look at goal, with Kemar Beckford and Mark Miller coming close, while Denardo Thomas had an effort cleared off the line by Arnett Gardens’ Oneil Thompson.

But the visitors also came close to taking the lead late in the half, but Ranike Anderson’s effort crashed off the post, though he was judged to be a fraction offside.

However, 10 minutes into the second-half, the hosts took the lead when Tremaine Stewart’s free kick was not dealt with by the Arnett Gardens defence and the ball crept in at the far post.

Both teams continued to exchange attacks with Waterhouse looking to hit on the counter attack and 10 minutes before the end, Arnett Gardens thought they had an equaliser when Newton Sterling slotted beyond Diego Haughton from six yards, but the big striker was called for offside.

Two minutes from time,Damion Hyatt denied Waterhouse a second goal when he blocked Beckford’s low shot for a corner. Then a few moments later, he saved a close-range effort to keep the deficit at one, as Waterhouse finished the stronger of the two teams.

Arnett’s coach Jerome Waite thought their defensive blunder made the difference.

“The difference came down to that error. Because both keepers had an outstanding game but that dead ball was within the path of the defender to clear. They said the goalkeeper shouted for the ball, as a result it end up in the back post,” Waite said.