Waterhouse continue their survival in the top-three spot of the Red Stripe Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win against a battling Boys’ Town at Drewsland on Sunday.

Damarley Samuels, who scored for Waterhouse in their last home game, was on target again to secure full points in minute 63.

Waterhouse, who were strengthened by the inclusion of Haitian national Chedlin Francoeur, along with Jason Watson, back from a short stint in Finland, went for the jugular of their opponents from the opening whistle, but failed to make no less than two opportunities that fell at their feet, tell.

Francoeur had the best chance with goalkeeper Kirk Porter out of the picture, but he was too fancy and the attempt on goal went marginally wide.

As the game progressed Boys’ Town came into their own and matched their hosts in every department with the only blip coming when a defence-splitting pass from deep in the Waterhouse area by Nicholi Finlayson left the Boys’ Town goalkeeper to the mercy of Samuels, who ran through and scored by lifting the ball over Porter’s leaping reach.

Securing his third consecutive win since taking over from Junior Francis as head coach at Waterhouse four matches ago, Anthony Patrick was understandably pleased. “It is always good to win so we came prepared with that particular intention.”

Andrew Price, the Boys’ Town coach, thought that “we did enough to leave Drewsland with at least a point, but we will have learnt that we cannot allow balls to drop in the middle of the park unattended. That we did today and gave up a soft goal”.

Francoeur, through his interpreter, fellow Haitian midfielder Ronald Joseph, who was on the bench, said that he felt comfortable playing with his new team and will show much more with greater understanding of each other in due course. Francoeur, who uses both feet with a preference for the left, went close on three occasions with left-footed shots and a header.

Teams: Waterhouse — Kelso Cousins, Nicholi Finlayson, Omar Walcott, Oshane Roberts, Hughan Gray, Jason Watson, Jamoly Powell (Juvaune Benjamin 84th), Romario Campbell, Damarley Samuels, Gary McIntosh (Steve Broderick 81st), Chedlin Francoeur

Subs not used: R McCallum, R Amos, R Joseph, K Brissett

Booked: Gray (22nd), Roberts (56th)

Boys’ Town — Kirk Porter, Hugh Evans, Carlos Wright, Wayne Ellis, Asrick Samuels, Richard Clarke (Shane Edwards 70th), Daemon Benjamin, Garfield Gillespie (Marvin Stewart 25th), Michael Campbell, Andre Dawson (Kevin Blackwood 84th), Rafiek Thomas

Subs not used: L Goffe, V Thompson, R Scott, T Garnett

Booked: Thomas 62nd

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistant Referees: Garnett Page, Lloyd Reader

Fourth Official: Karl Tyrel

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke