A Kemar Cockburn header in time added in the first half ensured that August Town defeated second-round leaders Waterhouse FC 1-0 at the UWI Bowl yesterday.

But the loss by Waterhouse (23 points) still allowed them into the backdoor of the second end-of-round final as Boys’ Town, in second-place with Harbour View and six points behind the leaders entering today’s round of matches, drew 0-0 with Sporting Central Academy at Collie Smith Drive. With only one match remaining in the second-round, Waterhouse duly booked their place.

The other second-placed team, Harbour View, were due to entertain Village United in a late match.

August Town’s new coach Paul Young saw the victory as the boost for the remainder of the season.

“This was a total team effort, the players worked hard, they stuck to the game plan, and I’m real proud of the players. We had some challenges during the week because the game was pushed forward and we didn’t get enough time to put in some conditioning work.

“This will do a lot for the confidence for the players. We have put in some new rules in place, we’ve tried to get their attitude and approach to the game with discipline and commitment,” he pointed out.

“This one is for the community of August Town against one of the top teams in the league,” he added.

Cockburn nodded home a Daniel Shaw corner for August Town to register their fourth win from 21 games.

The diminutive Shaw, a constant thorn to the Waterhouse defence with his dribbles and free kicks, was nearly stopped in his track in the second half with a vicious elbow from the Waterhouse captain Kenardo Forbes, but referee Kevin Morrison, did not act despite the sound of the blow echoing to the side lines.

Waterhouse’s marksman Kevin Lamey was kept in check throughout the match, but their coach Geoffrey Maxwell blamed their midfield for their first defeat in the second round.

“It was disappointing loss as I am constantly looking at the big picture. I understand that we are officially into the second round final, that to me is neither here or there… you don’t get points in the end of round final. The team played very, very poor, I take nothing away from August Town. They stuck to their game and tried to close us down a lot.

“I thought we played too much down the middle which is not our game, and I thought quite frankly the midfield was terrible. But it is one of those games I thought we should have been two goals up in 25 minutes and after that we got no more chances. August Town got one good header, brilliantly taken corner, and give them the credit,” noted Maxwell.

In another game, former champions Portmore United’s wretched season continued when they went crashing 1-3 to St Georges SC at Lynch Park.

Teams:

August Town — Devon Haughton, Dean Paul Grandison, Kevin Henzel, Raymond Williamson, Rohan McDonal, Mervin Stewart (Mark Grant 84th), Donovan Hibbert (Gue Daley 68th), Daniel Shaw, Ajuran Brown, Kemar Cockburn, Nicholas Smith (Mervin Miller 41st)

Subs not used: Dwight Morgan, Fabian Anderson, Diego Haughton, Maurice Clarke

Booked: R Williamson (86th)

Waterhouse FC — Richard McCallum, Rohan Amos, Keniel Moodie, Nicholi Finlayson, Desmond Breakenridge (Kemar Rodney 46th), Hugh Howell (Roger Rodney 58th), Damion Williams (Vincent Earl 72nd), Kenardo Forbes, Kemar Thomas, Kevin Lamey, Jonathan Williams

Subs not used: Moshell Nelson, Jermaine Anderson, Weston Forrest, Darren Mattocks

Booked: K Moodie (25th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistants: Anthony Garwood, Keeble Williams

Fourth Official: Wilverglen Lamey

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke