BY HURBUN WILLIAMS

Observer writer

WATERHOUSE registered their fifth lien on the Jackie Bell Trophy with a tenuous come from behind 3-2 win over Barbican at the Harbour View Mini Stadium on Thursday night.

The Jackie Bell KO was among the first trophies coach Anthony Patrick was bagging since taking over at Waterhouse, but while pleased with victory, he has set his sights on bigger and better things down the road.

“This achievement is secondary to the more difficult task ahead in staying focused to do well in the Red Stripe Premier League,” he stressed.

His opposite number Marvin Tate, despite loosing a close battle, said: “I thought my team fought gallantly to defy the odds. We had one real glimpse of victory when we missed that third goal to put us 3-1 up. But overall I thought the team played very well.”

Dean Phillips and Lennox Russell had put Barbican in front with two first half goals. Then second half goals from Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson and Tremaine Stewart in time added, complemented an early first half goal from skipper Damarley Samuels which gave Waterhouse victory.

The performance by Waterhouse was sub-par compared to their crushing victory against Harbour View a few days earlier in the Red Stripe Premier League.

They took an 11th-minute lead in fortuitous circumstances, but the early success seemed only to introduce complacency in their play, and Barbican, well drilled for the knockout occasion, sensed the malaise and seized the opportunity to take control of proceedings.

Waterhouse wobbled noticeably, and it was little surprise when Barbican equalised from a direct corner with the wind in their favour.

This inspired them and they raised their level of play to be ahead six minutes later when Russell eluded the Waterhouse defence to pounce on a through ball that beat goalkeeper George Brown after he was left exposed by some indifferent defending.

Barbican should have sewn up the game three minutes to half-time, but Jermaine Parris fired the ball wide with goalkeeper Brown his only obstacle.

Thanks to the lifeline, Waterhouse redoubled their effort somewhat when they returned for the second. But Barbican were not finished and continued to hold on to their slim lead.

But 11 minutes to full time Anderson struck with a header from a Romario Campbell corner kick that brought the teams even, and 11 minutes later in time added Stewart ran through to poke a low ball at the Barbican shot stopper, Shaven Paul, who let the ball escape his grasp to slide under him into the net behind.

Teams

Waterhouse — George Brown, Nicholi Finlayson, Jermaine Anderson, Hughan Gray, Damarley Samuels, Evan Taylor, Romario Campbell, Tremaine Stewart, Omar Walcott, Andre Messam (Jomoly Powell 67th), Andre Leslie (Adoah Nickle 77th)

Subs not used: Marlon Laing, Deandre Brown, Richard McCallum, Rohan Amos, Nathaniel Leslie

Booked: Anderson (35th)

Barbican – Shaven Paul, Ramone McGregor, Okive Blake, Shawn Lawes, Kemar Thomas, Andrew Christie (Steve Green 52nd) Dean Phillips, Akino Bailey, Lennox Russell, Keno Simpson, Jermaine Parris

Subs not used: Nicholas Campbell, Stephen Smith, Shaquille Lewis, Bebeto McDonald, Jamohy Green

Booked: None

Referee: Gawayne Scott

Assistant Referees: Garnet Page, Keble Williams

Fourth Official: Carvel Banton

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke