WATERHOUSE coach Donovan Duckie admitted that the success of his team in the Red Stripe Premier League will be heavily dependent on the goalscoring form Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson.

The prolific striker (eight goals) has so far scored the only hat-trick of the campaign and is among four other players currently sharing the lead in the race for the Golden Boot Award.

“A lot is really dependent on him,” Duckie told the Observer.

“What we have done is structure the programme in different groups to form a collective unit. He’s the group captain for the attacking group, so his leadership is important and we want him to be consistent.

“But what we have realised since he scored the hat-trick is that he has become a marked man. They’re not giving him a lot of space, even when he moves to the flanks there are still players marking him,” the former National Under-20 coach added.

“It’s now up to us to find a solution and we’re hoping that other players will step up and share the responsibility because a lot is dependent on him.”

Duckie was speaking to the Observer on Sunday evening following Waterhouse’s 1-1 draw with his former team, Sporting Central Academy, at Brancourt in Clarendon Park.

The result saw the Drewsland side falling further behind in the race for the second End-of-Round Final, with Portmore, Montego Bay United and Humble Lion ahead of them in the second-round table.

They, however, remain five points behind leaders Portmore United in third in the overall standings.

“We definitely want to be in the mid-season final,” Duckie said. “At the moment we’re not sure what’s happening around the league, but we’re looking very good overall.

“We beat Village, 4-1, went away and drew with Harbour View in a Knock-out game and we came here and got a point, which is good.”

The former St Cosmos, St Georges SC and Portmore coach said the plan is now to use the upcoming third round to make up further ground on the leaders.

“The stage is set for us to have a wonderful season,” he noted. “We have the facilities, good players and there’s a good backroom staff, plus we have been pretty consistent since the start of the season.

“We went to the final of the KSAFA Champions League and after 21 games in the league we’re third, so it’s good to be in the top four. Somewhere in the third round we want to make our move for the number one spot,” he declared.