Title- favourites Waterhouse FC copped the first title of the 2018 Jamaica Football Federation/Lascelles Employees and Partners Co-operative Credit Union Women’s League when they clipped Arnett Gardens 2-1 in the mid-season final at Winchester Park yesterday.

Along with the title, the Xavier Gilbert-coached team pocketed $120,000 after goals from Christina Salmon (45th minute) and Khedine Salmon (72nd), who are not related. The runners-up, who got their goal through Shaday Shirley (38th), took home $100,000.

Though pleased with the win, Gilbert was disappointed with the display of his team.

“I am happy that we won but disappointed with the performance. I don’t think either team did the spectators any justice but that was the nature of it, and we just have to go back to the drawing board and work on a few things,” the tactician told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview.

His counterpart, Denton Shedden took some pleasure in his team’s effort.

“I am happy with the team’s performance because today we showed that we deserve to be here, but I am disappointed that we didn’t win after creating so much chances,” Shedden noted.

As expected, Waterhouse FC were quick out the blocks and threatened early through Salmon, whose shot on target was blocked by the advancing Telesha Campbell in goal for Arnett Gardens.

Arnett Gardens settled into their own soon after and almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but Kadian Edwards’ stinging right-footed effort from the top of the box ricocheted off the right upright.

The “Junglists” again went close in the 20th minute when Shanise Foster breached Waterhouse’s defence, and it took the outstretched right leg of custodian Tiana Schroeter to deny her from close range.

Still, Waterhouse looked the more enterprising outfit as they had a number of promising attacks which they should have converted, but poor decision-making and faulty shooting denied them.

Two minutes past the half-hour mark Waterhouse players were again left hanging their heads when a 20-yard free kick from Rochell Gray came back off the crossbar.

However, Arnett Gardens went ahead against the run of play when Shirley’s shot from a distance lodged in the top left-hand corner of the net.

Waterhouse responded immediately through Keneisha Reid, who broke down the right channel and released a firm left-footer from outside the area, and custodian Campbell was caught way off her line.

It took a dazzling solo effort from Salmon to get Waterhouse back on level terms, as she wormed her way through two defenders and the hapless goalkeeper to fire into an empty net and make it 1-1 at the break.

It was end to end action just after the resumption as both teams had their fair look at goal. But it was one-way traffic thereafter as Arnett Gardens applied constant pressure.

After successfully absorbing the pressure, Waterhouse surged forward with an unlikely go-ahead goal afterKhedine Salmon’s effort from approximately 30 yards out left Campbell with no chance.

And Salmon almost had her second with another shot from way outside the box, but Campbell did well to get across this time around to parry. Arnett Gardens tried desperately to pull one back but the Waterhouse defence stood firm to ensure victory.