Own-goal gifts Humble Lions place in Flow semis
EFFORTVILLE, Clarendon — Humble Lions FC needed an own goal in time added to book their place in the semi-finals of the Flow Champions Cup All-Island KO competition, beating two-time champions Waterhouse 2-1 at Effortville yesterday.
Kimroy Davis shot Humble Lions into the lead on 17 minutes, while veteran striker Kevin Lamely restored parity for Waterhouse four minutes before the break.
Humble Lions, who were beating their Premier League opponents for the second time in four meetings this season, will meet the winners of the Harbour View-St Georges game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on March 28 in one semi-final.
“… The team came out here this afternoon with a purpose of getting into the semi-final of the Flow Cup and to prepare ourselves for the next Premier League game,” said Humble Lions’ assistant coach Linval Wilson.
“We planned that we weren’t going to give this Waterhouse team any room… we were going to close them down and get out the top man… Lamey (and), that’s what we did”, he added.
Bruised from their 1-2 home defeat against Village United in the Digicel Premier League on Sunday, Humble Lions made their intentions known early with Omar Walters, Omando McLeod and Davis peppering the goal.
It came as no real surprise when Davis put them in front on 17 minutes.
The lanky playmaker benefitted from a goalmouth melee, then took his own sweet time to pick his spot before beating goalkeeper Moshell Nelson to his left.
After the goal, the Waterhouse unit, minus captain Kenardo Forbes, first-choice goalkeeper Richard McCallum, the wily Johnathon Williams and the pair of Keneil Moodie and Hugh Howell, who were on the bench, looked almost inferior.
However, young Andre Clennon and company — eager to impress coach Geoffrey Maxwell — quickly regain their composure and took the fight to the Lions.
Clennon and veteran striker Lamey came close to levelling the scores just before the half-hour mark, but discarded national goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers continued to showed what he’s worth with two majestic saves.
Moments later, his report card would, however, be soiled as Lamey popped up with the equaliser in the 41st.
Weston Forrest crashed a long-range screamer onto the left upright, which rebounded nicely for Lamey to stab home from close range and send his team into the interval on level terms.
Immediately after the restart, the teams went for the tie-breaker, but the goalkeepers kept the scores level until the 93rd when a Waterhouse defender agonisingly smashed the ball into his own net, while trying to clear a corner kick from Owen Gordon.