WATERHOUSE FC surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead when their opening game of the Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship with AS Capoise of Haiti ended 2-2 at National Stadium East Field in Kingston Sunday Night.

Two quick goals in the first half from Andre Fletcher and Keithy Simpson had given the National Premier League runners-up a comfortable half-time lead only for the Haitians to roar back through Ivenet Noel and Franz Moise in the 56th and 57th minutes, respectively, to help the visitors take a share of the spoils, which may prove to be crucial in the four-team competition.

Both teams had earlier watched Portmore United clip Real Hope 1-0 and knew exactly what was required to assume sole leadership of the group.

Waterhouse seemed to have gotten the message as their dominance of the first half was rewarded when Captain Tremaine Stewart lay the ball on a platter for the impressive Andre Fletcher to side-foot his team in front.

Waterhouse found themselves two goals to the good shortly after, when referee awarded a penalty and Simpson duly converted from 12 yards.

A polished first-half performance from the Jamaicans saw them continue to dominate to the interval as the Haitians had no answers to their slick passing and quick ball movement.

Capoise did get two look-ins late in the half, both chances falling to Captain Djimy-Bend Alexis but neither effort was on target.

Waterhouse looked sleepy on their return for the second half with their ball movement slowed significantly.

They were guilty of overplaying at the back and were caught dawdling in the final third. Noel fired past Akeen Chambers in the Waterhouse goal to half the deficit. Before Waterhouse could muster a response the score was 2-2 as the diminutive Noel beat Chambers once again.

Marcel Gayle went to his bench to try and re-establish a lead but the changes he made had no further impact on the score line, leaving both teams to settle for a point.

Waterhouse Assistant Coach Daniel Bent was left to rue the poor start by his team at the second half, after what could have been considered a perfect start.

“We had taken the ascendency when we scored two goals in the first half and the half-time talk was to get one more and then close down the game.”

He promised a swift response from his team to a situation that can still be salvage.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen but we still get a point from the game and then we move on to the next game on Tuesday, so all is not lost.

“We are going to go back to the training pitch to fix things and we are going to come back on Tuesday (today) to get the job done.”

The always-optimistic coach identified at least one area to address ahead of their game against Real Hope.

“In the final third we need to be more clinical. We need to play a bit faster; we were a bit too slow today, but I am very confident that the team will get the job done.”

Bent singled out Fletcher for praise for his sterling first-half performance.

“I think it was really good; he is a youngster who has been working really hard throughout the season, and a goal well deserved. I am very happy for him and I think if he continues like this there are more goals to come.”

Waterhouse will take on the pointless Real Hope in the first game today starting at 5:30 pm, while leaders Portmore United, on three points, will take on AS Capoise in the feature game at 8:00 pm.