Waterhouse FC and Humble Lion played out a determined 1-1 draw to open their challenge in the second round of the Red Stripe Premier League at Drewsland on Sunday.

Rodave Murray scored for Waterhouse in minute 65, while Gary McIntosh hit the leveller for Humble Lion in the 66th minute.

The result left Humble Lion in third place on 21 points, two adrift of leaders UWI FC, while Waterhouse are in 10th place on 11 points.

Following a keenly contested first half that saw the teams going to the break level, coaches introduced changes as early as five minutes into the half and immediately, the prospect of goalscoring looked healthier. However, it was not realised until Murray, who replaced Irvino English in the 59th minute, broke the deadlock.

A solo run that started on the tip of the half line ended with Murray hitting a terrific shot to the back of the Humble Lion net six minutes later, which gave Waterhouse what was a tenuous lead, as one minute later Humble Lion equalised.

Overzealous attacking play by the Waterhouse defence left goalkeeper George Brown exposed and McIntosh, who came on as a second-half substitute four minutes earlier than did Murray, had the easiest of tasks levelling the scores.

The fact that both teams lost their round-ending game a draw seemingly was a middle ground result.

“This point is important for us. Sometimes you lose and you have to consolidate,” Humble Lion’s Head Coach Donovan Duckie said. “What is important is the mental aspect. When you lose, your confidence is damaged and we have to continue to do damage repair. Hopefully, in our next game at home, we can come up with three points to consolidate,” Duckie said.

“I am satisfied with the point. Although we played very well we could have lost,” Waterhouse’s Head Coach Marvin Tate, said. “We had the game to win also, but in a game as this with two humble teams — one at the top, the other at the bottom, neither gave up much and I could not ask for more from my players,” Tate added.

Teams: Waterhouse FC — George Brown, Nicholi Finlayson, Kevin Kellyman (Ramone Gregory 54th), Jahmika Hutchinson, Oshane Roberts, Akino Roberts, Romario Campbell, Irvino English (Rodave Murray 59th), Andre McFarlane, Jermaine Anderson, Kemar Beckford (Andre Leslie 88th)

Subs not used: Rushane Patterson, Stephorn Brown, Marlon Laing, DeAndre Brown

Booked: Anderson (3rd), Campbell (30th), Kellyman (45th)

Humble Lion FC — Allien Whittaker, Francios Swaby, Gregory Lewis (Ricardo Dennis 8th), Devon Hodges (Gary McIntosh 54th), Hughan Gray, Kaydian Wynter, Ricardo Campbell, Kevon Reid, Kevaughn Isaacs (Wolry Wolfe 50th), Andrew Vanzie, Dwayne Holmes

Subs not used: Kadeen Davis, Hugh Howell, Cornell Robinson, Rafiek Thomas

Booked: Vanzie (25th), Isaacs (45th), Wynter (79th), Wolfe (90th)

Referee: Oshane Nation

Assistant Referees: Keble Williams, Sean Wright

Fourth Official: Doyen Tummings

Match Commissioner: Dalton Wint

Match Assessor: Garnet Page