NICHOLY Finlayson, the seasoned and long-serving Waterhouse FC defender, scored a late equaliser against Portmore United to salvage a point for the Drewsland-based team and by the same token, knocked the former Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) leaders off the top of the current standings with an exciting 2-2 draw at the Drewsland Mini Stadium on Thursday.

Roshane Sharpe put Portmore United ahead in the second minute of play and the home team launched an immediate countervailing attack on their visitors to press relentlessly against them with repeated threatening attacks on their goal. The relentless pressure for 30 minutes on the visitors’ goal following the early setback invited the equaliser as Recardo Thomas scored to bring the teams level in the 32nd minute. With the teams now even keel, there were close calls from either side but the scores remained even to the break.

On the resumption, Waterhouse returned to the pitch with their first half industry, but it was Portmore United who found the go-ahead goal 28 minutes from time when Rosario Harriott netted with a well-placed shot past Diego Haughton in goal.

However, Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle would have none of that and he urged his players to step up their game back to the earlier energetic level of play by throwing everybody into the attack. And from a right-sided spot kick, Finlayson bundled the ball over the line to salvage another draw to the delight of the home supporters.

The point merely served to stem a drop and extended a series of drawn matches — the fifth of their last six games with the other being a loss.

Gayle was not pleased with his series of drawn results but has not given up hope of coming out of the slump as he sees positives. “We have been playing well enough to come away with better results than we have been getting. The team is on track. This is a league format and with the team continuing to apply themselves with a bit more efficiency in front to the goal, it is more than likely we will turn the form around quite soon.

“Despite drawing a number of our games as we did tonight ,and in some cases coming from two goals down or a goal down as we demonstrated against one of the better teams in the competition shows the depth of character within the team. With this display we can just continue to press on and search for better results as it is still early days yet.”

His Portmore United counterpart Shavar Thomas was not too surprised by the final result. “We knew before hand, that coming to Waterhouse it would have been a tough game and we started out very well. The first 10 to 15 minutes of the game were positive for us. We were doing what we set out to do. With the momentum switched in the first half, we gave up too many fowls around our box and this caused them to get back into the game with set pieces. Set pieces will be their best chance to do so and it resulted in both goals. Much the same thing appeared in the later part of the second half which resulted in the second goal. And you know pressure burst pipe. So we’ll will take the point and move on,” Thomas said.

Teams: Waterhouse FC – Diego Haughton, Kiethy Simpson, Nicholy Finlayson, Shaun Dewar, Mark Miller, Ricardo Thomas, Stephen Williams (Andre Leslie 77th,) Andre McFarlane, Kenroy Howell, Ricardo Samuels (Rafeik Thomas 77th), Tremaine Stewart

Subs not used: Akeem Champers, Damian Binns, Andre Fletcher, Keammar Daley

Booked: Samuels (27th)

Portmore United FC – Kemar Foster, Damano Solomon, Rosario Harriott, Roberto Johnson, Ryan Wellington, Chavany Willis, Venton Evans, Ricardo Morris, Javon East (Rondee Smith 70th), Fer Donnegy (Courtney Allen 66th), Roshane Sharpe (Nacquan Brown 64th)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant referees: Damain Williams, Rolanzo Bennett

Fourth official: Steffan Dewar

Match commissioner: Elaine Walker-Brown