CATHERINE HALL, St James — Dino Williams scored his first goal of the season to lead two-time champions Montego Bay United to a scrappy 1-0 victory over Waterhouse FC, in their Red Stripe Premier League game at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday evening.

Williams, who was making his first start of the season, scored in the sixth minute but missed at least two other clear-cut chances as the teams combined to miss no fewer than eight chances in a woeful display of finishing.

While the MBU coach Roderick Underwood rued his team’s missed chances “to put away the game early”, newly appointed Waterhouse FC coach Donovan Duckie compared the MBU team “to a school team”.

The win saw MBU inch up to eighth place on 11 points, while Waterhouse FC, who have one win so far, are in 10th spot on seven points — one above the relegation zone occupied by Boys’ Town and Sandals South Coast.

Underwood told the Jamaica Observer that they had to make several adjustments just prior to game time as three players, including influential midfielder Jermaine Woozencroft, had to be withdrawn due to injuries. Another player, Dave Artwell, suffered a migraine headache the coach said and “was bleeding from the nose”.

The American was still satisfied with his team’s performance not withstanding, and said they showed character. “We should have put it away from early and I am just disappointed that we did not do the right things.”

Late in the game he said they tried to secure the points. “We made some changes to give us some more numbers at the back and needed to hold on at that point.”

Duckie, who returned to Waterhouse FC last week after guiding Humble Lion to the top of the regular season’s points table last season, said: “I was very impressed; we lost and yet I am smiling. I have to wonder if this is the Premier League or the school league. I am very impressed with how quick they (Waterhouse FC players) have picked up the system.”

Duckie, who had a stint with MBU, added. “Unlucky, impossible. Find all the adjectives, it’s as if we were playing against a school team. I wish everyone could see the game; we had 14 chances and hit the bar four times and MBU had one and half chances, and yet we have nothing to show for it.

“In the first half we had six chances on the stat sheet and in the second half we had eight chances,” he told the Observer.

The home team got off to the better start and forced Waterhouse FC on their heels, and were rewarded when Williams finished off a good move down the left by the speedy Jefroy Leslie, powering the ball past goalkeeper Akeem Chambers.

MBU goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett made the first of a string of good saves when he got low in the 12th minute to block a shot that was deflected over the crossbar for a corner.

MBU gradually took over the game and created three good scoring chances in a short period as the Waterhouse FC defence was stretched. A smart one-two combination between Williams and Dwayne Ambusley created an opening for the latter, but his shot missed the right post by inches in the 31st minute.

Chambers did well to block a shot from Leslie at his near left post in the 33rd minute, giving up a corner, while Williams missed his best scoring chance in the 43rd minute when he skied the ball from about eight yards out, with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Waterhouse FC just missed drawing level on the stroke of half-time when a free kick from just on the edge of the area came back off the base of the left upright before the MBU defence managed to scramble it away.

Williams got yet another chance to double his team’s lead in the 49th minute when he was sent through clear of the defenders, and with Chambers at his mercy pushed the ball wide of the far-right post.

Andre McFarlane wasted at least three good scoring chances for Waterhouse FC, heading the ball off the top left- hand corner of the MBU goal with Barrett rooted to the spot and out of position in the 56th minute.

The forced substitution of MBU’s defender Ladale Richie through an injury in the 65th minute, followed four minutes later by Williams being stretchered off, tipped the scales in favour of Waterhouse FC, but they were unable to make the possession count.

Their last chance came in time added on when a shot from substitute Andre Dawson from the right side beat the defence and goalkeeper Barrett, hit the inside of the post, and bounced out, where an MBU player booted it away.

Teams: Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Dwayne Ambusley, John Barrett, Ladale Richie (Donovan Carey 65th), Orlando McBayne, Nicholas Stewart, Nicholas Amponsah, Keniel Kirlew (Anthony Drummond 83rd), Lesly St Fleur, Jefroy Leslie, Dino Williams (Odane Nish 69th)

Subs not used: David Swaby, Hietolah Gardner, Omar Brown, Anthony Marks

Booked: None

Waterhouse FC — Akeem Chambers, Nicholy Finlayson, Carlos Wright, Ricardo Thomas, Jeffrey Henry, Andre McFarlane (Denardo Thomas 83rd), Tremaine Stewart, Dasha Satchwell (Christiano Armando 86th), Keno Simpson, Andre Leslie, Rodari Edwards (Andre Dawson 57th)

Subs not used: Diego Haughton, Dwayne Silvera, Shamari Dyer, Samar Rowe

Booked: Henry (57th)

Referee: Oshane Nation

Assistant referees: Jermaine Yee-Singh, Oyinco McTaggart

Fourth official: Sean Wright

Match commissary: Gregory Daley