Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Defending champions Waterhouse fended off the advances of ambitious newcomers August Town to come away with a 2-0 victory in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League opening fixture at the Waterhouse Stadium yesterday.

Goals from Roberto Fletcher and ace striker Kevin Lamey got the cup holders off to a brisk and business-like start to the season, but debutantes August Town were no pushovers and from the opening whistle it was clear that they were there to compete. The early going saw them match the defending champions stride for stride but indecisiveness with final passes in the final third saw Waterhouse custodian Richard McCallum face very little threat. Things were pretty much the same at the other end as the Waterhouse midfielders and back line had problems locating their front men.

August Town custodian Devon Haugh-ton was called into action when he went full stretch to parry away a 36-yard blast to goal from a free kick by national player Garfield Reid and though he coughed up the shot, there was no one there to profit.

Bright start

After a goalless first half, the defending champions would get off to a brighter start in the second half. The industry of central midfielder Vincent Earle would see them in the lead. Picking up the ball in the middle of the park, Earle drove to the edge of the 18-yard box before playing a through ball for Fletcher which easily saw him toe past August Town keeper Haughton for a 54th-minute lead.

Not looking as sharply as they did in the first half, alertness by left back Reid would see him prise open an August Town back line caught flat-footed with a quickly taken free kick. The ferociously whipped in free kick from about 45 yards away, bounced on the penalty spot, and last season's leading goalscorer Lamey took the chance to open his account. His initial header, nodded over a stranded Haughton, came back off the post, but the striker was fortunate enough to be in place for a follow-up volley in the first minute of time added on.

"This is the beginning of the season and I am quite pleased with this result," said Waterhouse assistant coach, Andrew Williams.

August Town 0

Waterhouse 2

(Roberto Fletcher 54th, Kevin Lamey 91st)