'We just did not execute in the final third'
Published: Tuesday | March 31, 2009
Meadhaven United's Keammar Daley and Boys' Town's Zeicko Herrera (right) jump to challenge for the ball during the Digicel Premier League match at Collie Smith Drive on Sunday. Boys' Town won 2-1. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
WATERHOUSE failed to capitalise Sunday on home advantage, playing to a 0-0 Digicel Premier League draw with lowly Reno at Drewsland.
Starting the day fifth on 40 points, Waterhouse edged a point up the standings in what coach Paul Young said was a dis-appointing draw.
Their much-revered strike pair of Kevin Lamey and Jermaine Anderson did not bother Reno goalie Dennis Taylor at any point in the match, leaving midfielder Irvino English to get most shots on goal, but mainly from distance.
"We just did not execute in the final third," said Young. "We spoke about it at half-time and even before the match. The decision making was below average and it's really dis-appointing against a team at the foot of the standings," he added.
Reno actually got the best chances of the match and should have led in either the 20th or 27th minutes, but Dwayne Plummer fired weakly at McCallum in the first instance.
In the 27th, their leading scorer, Gary McIntosh, was fed a sliding pass by Nicholy Findlayson inside the box, but unbelievably tried to beat McCallum at his near post.
Stung into action, Waterhouse responded immediately but Kenardo Forbes' volley was cleared near the goal line by Plummer after goalie Dennis Taylor rushed off his line to shut down the Waterhouse midfielder but missed the ball.
Pressure
English twice tested Taylor before the break, but the Reno goalie easily held a low grounder before tipping a looping 38-yard shot from the Waterhouse midfielder.
Reno started the second half as they did the first, putting Waterhouse goalie McCallum under pressure early.
Findlayson should have done better from 12 yards but scooped his shot over the bar under pressure.
Young tried injecting some pace in his sluggish-looking team, bringing on Kirk Ramsey in the 69th and the equally speedy Roberto Fletcher 10 minutes later, replacing Lamey. But it was English who gave them their best chance a minute from time, whipping in a free kick from the right flank, forcing Taylor to tip for a corner.
Unlike Young, Reno's Wendell Downswell, whose team edged up to 24 points, two above last-place Village and two behind 10th-place Meadhaven, said his team improved defensively.
Setting the foundation
"Having recognised conceding four goals in our last two games, although we scored four ourselves, we did some work defensively and this now seems to be a foundation to build on," he said.
The Reno coach said the away draw against a top-six team would "do something for our confidence".
However, breaking into the top six with a half round left is challenging.
"If we get maximum points from our remaining games, we can get there, especially from our home games," he added.