‘WE BELIEVED IN OURSELVES’
Waterhouse banks on self-confidence to book spot in JPL final with Cavalier
WATERHOUSE CAPTAIN Nicholay Findlayson said that despite losing their first-leg advantage early i n their second-leg Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match against Mount Pleasant, they were always confident of getting back into the game.
Waterhouse booked their place in a third successive national championship after scoring a 2-1 aggregate win at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday after a 1-0 win in the first tie and a 1-1 draw in the return game.
Their first-leg lead was quickly erased yesterday as six minutes into the game, Jourdaine Fletcher scored a freekick to level the tie.
However, Rafiek Thomas, with his first goal of the season in the 45th minute salvaged a draw for the Marcel Gayle-coached team and gave them their third successive place in the grand final. They meet Cavalier, who drew 0-0 with Tivoli in the day’s other game, but advance 1-0 on aggregate.
‘When they scored, we didn’t drop our heads. We just picked up from there and stepped up our game as we knew the goal would come at some point.’
WITHSTAND PRESSURE
“We knew Mount Pleasant was going to come and put us on the backfoot, but we just wanted to withstand that initial pressure,” Finlayson said after the game.
“When they scored, we didn’t drop our heads. We just picked up from there and stepped up our game as we knew the goal would come at some point.
“But we prepared for this, and we knew what to expect. It is about the pressure of the game and the players stepping up to the occasion, and it’s a great feeling being in the final.
“I give thanks for it, and now that we are in the final, we have to push on.”
Mount Pleasant, needing to score to level the tie, got the opening goal only six minutes into the contest.
Thomas nearly equalised moments after, but his soft shot was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Shaven Paul. With the game evenly poised, the two teams went in search of the lead, but both defences stood firm.
Daniel Green had his wellstruck effort parried by Nash in the 31st minute for Mount Pleasant.
However, Thomas made up for his earlier miss when he redirected Andre Fletcher’s cross from seven yards.
Green then place a shot wide from close range as Mount Pleasant looked to get back.
Waterhouse wasted two great opportunities through Thomas and leading scorer Shaquille Bradford.
Sue-Lae McCalla fired a great chance over the bar in the 75th from eight yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Damion Binns responded with a cracking shot that rattled the bar minutes later. Andre Fletcher also caused some panic in the last moments, but the alert Mount Pleasant defence stopped him from adding to the score.
Findlayson said nothing but the best effort will be accepted from his team in the final on Saturday.
“Any opponent in a final is a tough one,” he said. “We at Waterhouse prepare for games like this – semi-final and finals.”
Mount Pleasant coach Walter Downes said the loss of Ladale Richie midway the match was a major blow.
“It’s his hamstring. He had it for about a week, and we decided to see if he could get through it,” Downes said. “He battled and gave his best effort, but he couldn’t come out for the second half.
“We played the second half without our regular central defenders. But the way we battled with players playing out of position, I am proud of them.”