Bradford strikes to earn point for Waterhouse

Shaqueil Bradford saved Waterhouse from making a losing return to the Waterhouse mini-stadium scoring a late equaliser against Portmore to earn a 1-1 draw in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) yesterday.

Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle praised his substitutes and the fight they showed to get back in the game.

“The substitutes were magnificent. The players came in and put in a good shift and, if we were a little more lucky, we could have collected all three points,” he said.

Waterhouse went behind in the second half and looked in danger of losing their first match in over two years on home turf, but Bradford turned up to find the equaliser and salvaged a point for the hosts.

“It is a welcome return. We are grateful for the opportunity to return home. It wasn’t the result we wanted for the fans but, once we can put in the performance each week, we are on the way. Today, we held our heads high, fought to the last whistle and got a point,” Gayle added.

Waterhouse started the stronger of the two teams and Bradford should have done better to direct a header on target in the 17th minute.

Rushane Thompson produced a great header for Portmore minutes later but goalkeeper Kemar Foster was equal to the task. Then Akeem Mulling should have done better with a shot that went straight to Foster.

Emelio Rousseau then tested Foster again with a powerful free kick that the shot stopper parried against the post and across the goal before being cleared.

Though Waterhouse were always dangerous on the counter, Portmore ended the match the better team.

After the break, Waterhouse had the two best chances but goalkeeper William Benjamin saved from Bradford and Orlando Brown fired a shot just wide.

Portmore took the lead on 75 minutes when Jevick McFarlane headed home from Rousseau’s precise cross from a free kick.

However, Waterhouse kept pushing and were rewarded with an equaliser when Williams failed to stop a shot and Bradford turned home the loose ball from four yards with four minutes to go.

Portmore coach Phillip Williams said poor defending cost them the three points.

“It’s simple principle of defending. The defender backed off too far. The team played solidly. We had a lot of changes through injury but the guys we put out really did a good job. They really stepped up and put in a good shift,” Williams said.

Waterhouse moved to 17 points but stay in seventh, while Portmore climbed to 16 points but they remain in eighth.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Other results:

Tivoli Gardens 3 Montego Bay 0

Mount Pleasant 1 Humble Lion 0

Vere 1 Faulkland 0

Dunbeholden 0 Chapelton 0