Desperate times call for desperate measures as Waterhouse FC defeated third-placed University of the West Indies (UWI) FC 2-1 in a crucial opening second round late kick-off Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) match at the Drewsland mini stadium on Sunday.

The victory has moved Waterhouse up to ninth on 12 points in the 12-team championship.

Playing with the aggression and passion as though their lives depended on the win, Waterhouse went in search an early goal from the off to settle their nerves. Then seven minutes in, the industrious Kemar Beckford met a right side corner kick from Tramaine Stewart with aplomb to head Waterhouse into the lead. The goal drought broken, the nippy forward then made the score 2-0 after 24 minutes with another headed goal, this time from a well-taken free kick by skipper Dasha Satchwell inside 25 yards of the UWI goal.

Eight minutes later UWI benefited from a rare attack by reducing the deficit with a penalty from Ryan Miller, who blasted the spot kick past Diego Haughton in goal for Waterhouse from a handled ball incident in the area.

It was a three-goal first as Beckford was scoring for the first time for the season, it was the first home win for Waterhouse and the first time that Waterhouse were beating the UWI since Marcel “Fuzzy” Gayle left them to coach UWI.

Coach Donovan Duckie, who is doing his third stint as coach at Waterhouse, was a very pleased man. “Huge win! Two goals from our striker gave us a good start. Overall I thought our transition and counter-attacking prowess were good today and we were the better team.

“I must say full credit to the guys. They worked pretty hard and this must be just reward for their effort. It is just three weeks I’m with them and we are adapting very well to score our first home victory after 12 games and we just have to continue working,” Duckie added.

Teams: Waterhouse FC — Diego Haughton, Nicholy Finlayson, Shawn Lawes, Keno Simpson, Ricardo Thomas, Jeffrey Henry (Tyrone Harrison 55th), Dasha Satchwell (Dale Reid 90th+4), Tramaine Stewart, Kemar Beckford, Shaw McKoy, Andre Leslie (Andre Dawson 69th)

Subs not used: Akeem Chambers, Andre McFarlane, Carlos Wright,Christian Armando

Booked: Henry (30th), Finlayson (45th), McKoy (45th)

UWI FC — Nicholas King, Rochane Smith (Stephen Barnett 74th), Taniel McKenzie, Deno Schaffe, Ryan Miller, Dravian Williams, Kemar Flemmings, Girvan Brown, Fabion McCarthy, Davion Garrison, Patrick Brown (Jerondy Henry 83rd)

Subs not used: Kemoy Atkinson, Daniel Gilzene, Dawyne Smith, Jabari Wallace, Stephen Lowe

Booked: Smith (39th), McCarthy (50th)

Referee: Graffique King

Assistant referees: Melvin Reid, Damian Williams

Fourth official: Derron Davy

Match commissioner: Anthony Cooke

— Hurbun Williams