Gardner rues missed Portmore chances
Published:Monday | November 11, 2019 | 12:32 AMLivingston Scott/ - Gleaner Writer
Portmore United head coach Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner has said that his team should not have come away from their game against Waterhouse without three points after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw. Their Red Stripe Premier League match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday was the teams’ first meeting since their clash in last season’s grand final at the National Stadium, where tempers flared between players on both sides.
Gardner blamed faulty shooting for his team not getting the win and better results over the first round, which ended yesterday.
“I believe we should have gotten more from the game,” he said. “I think we did enough to get all three points, but we were up against very tough opponents who are in form, but it’s unfair to come out of the game with one point.”
In a high-intensity, high-quality game, the defending champions, Portmore United, and league leaders Waterhouse were evenly matched in the first half.
Shai Smith fired the home team in front in the 19th minute after Waterhouse failed to clear their lines on three attempts.
Waterhouse had a great chance moments later when Stephen Williams got himself into a great position, but he took the selfish route when it was better to pass.
After the break, the teams went head to head, but eventually, Waterhouse gained the ascendancy as Portmore could find no answer for Andre Moulton, Kenroy Howell and Tremaine Stewart in midfield.
Stewart, who had an inspired game, produced a moment of brilliance to create the equaliser. He turned his marker and threaded a precise ball for Colorado Murray, who tucked the ball inside the near post in the 74th minute.
Andre Lewis had a glorious chance to steal all the points for Portmore, but he blasted a sitter high over the bar.
Waterhouse assistant coach Damion Gordon thought the draw was a fair result but credited his team for digging deep to find the equaliser.
“In the first half, we allowed them to play too much,” he said. “But in the second half, I must commend the team for its energy. The players put in a really gutsy performance to get the result.”