Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse players and fans celebrate their Wray and Nephew Premier League League second End-of-Round Final victory over Harbour View at the National Stadium last night. Waterhouse won 4-1 on penalties after a thrilling 4-4 draw at the end of regular and extra-time. - PHOTOS BY RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WATERHOUSE WON the second End-of-Round final in dramatic fashion, beating Harbour View 4-1 on penalties after playing to a 4-4 draw up to extra-time last night at the National Stadium.
In one of the most exciting and enthralling finals - full of twists and turns - Waterhouse through Irvino English, Demar Phillips, Akeno Morgan and Garfield Reid, converted all their penalties.
Nicholas Dodd was the only Harbour View kicker to score as youngsters Richard West and Marcelino Blackburn spooned their spot kicks.
Waterhouse pocketed the $165,000 winning prize money, while Harbour View recieved $110,000, in a game in which football was the winner.
However, it was two defensive errors that got the game off to a blistering start in which five goals were scored in the first half.
FIRST ERROR
The first error was by Waterhouse's Craig White and the second by Harbour View's goalkeeper Leighton Murray.
In the sixth minute, Blackburn was the first to collect his belated New Year gift, tapping home from close range after Craig White attempted to play the ball back to his goalkeeper, Maurice Evans, and Blackburn made the interception.
Then, goalkeeper Murray allowed a ball to slip through his grasp and his legs and Gordon pounced to level the scores in the 10th minute.
CRUCIAL GOALS
Gordon, who scored some crucial goals for Harbour View last year, then quickly gave Water-house the lead, out-running the defender before ramming home in the 15th minute.
Waterhouse seemed to be in control but then came the big man Gregory Simpson who rose high to head home English's free-kick in the 33rd minute.
Two minutes later, the powerfully-built Simpson, playing at left back, scored his second 'goal of the season' contender from 40 yards.
The half ended 3-2 in favour of Harbour View, but that was the beginning of things to come.
Gordon, who later said he lived for the big occasions, registered his hat-trick in the 76th minute after the ball fell at his feet from an English free-kick to send the game into extra-time.
Substitute Leon Strickland scored what seemed to be the winner in the 115th minute but that was quickly cancelled by Vincent Earle's 119th minute strike.
Winning coach, Wayne Fairclough, said the game was played in the true sense of a final.
"In the end we were a better unit today and it is good for football."
Losing coach Donovan Hayles said his team played poorly defensive in giving up four goals.
"Nevertheless this team showed that they have class and quality. I am not worried about it."
GOALSHEET
Waterhouse 4
(Jomo Gordon 10th, 15th & 76th, Vincente Earle 119th)
Harbour View 4 (Blackburn 6th, Gregory Simpson 33rd, 35th , Leon Strickland 115th)
