Four games into his new stint in charge at Waterhouse FC and c oach Donovan Duckie has been able to put a smile back on the faces of fans of the Drewsland-based club.

Starving for a win and a good performance at home, the faithful fans who turned out to watch the team play against UWI FC in their Red Stripe Premier League game on Sunday were treated to both as the former champions came up with a rare win against the boys from Mona.

Led by a first-half brace from the mercurial Kemar Beckford, Duckie’s troops were able to carve out a deserved 2-1 win, which helped them to ease away from the dreaded relegation zone, as the second round of the competition began.

With sweat streaming down the side of his face as though he himself had just played the game, the coach gave the Jamaica Observer his thoughts on the match.

“It was a good fight. When I took up this team, I realised they had some problems and we are working… it is a work in progress. We played against MoBay United which we should have won three consecutive games we should have won — but this is the game. we created the least number of chances and we got a good test today (Sunday) against a quality team, very experienced team,” said a satisfied Duckie.

Forever a man with a tactical plan, the former soldier set out his team to be solid at the back, with the defensive organisation on full display, despite his team getting two early goals in the contest.

“They were much better than us playing out of the back, but we allowed them some things and we took away some things from them. We counter-attacked and we counter pressed because we knew what they were capable of doing. Two goals from our striker (Kemar Beckford) gave us a good start and I thought that was important because we were playing against a dangerous team,” he explained.

Hard work will continue to be the order of the day in the weeks and months ahead as the team, which has languished in the bottom half of the table since the start of the season, looks to cross into the top half and set themselves up for a play-off position.

“We are working pretty hard and it’s paying dividends; it’s just three weeks and they are adapting and it’s key. This is our first home victory after 12 games,” Duckie remarked.

The positive response of the fans was not lost on the coach on Sunday, and he intends to leave his signature all over Drewsland and the league.

“It’s very important to get the fans back on the side of the team. I have been awarded more than four times for best defensive team. maybe it’s my signature and it is something that I wanted to bring here, because defensively they are not bad, but I think the key thing is the support of the community.

“That is a crucial thing for us and they (the fans) drive them (the team); they are here, week in week out,” he said with a smile.

A key feature of Duckie’s style of coaching is his knack of understanding his players more than most. For example, Nicholy Finlayson, who has been a stalwart in defence for Waterhouse for years, was frozen out under Glendon “Admiral Bailey” Bailey, but he has since been restored to the heart of the defence where he partnered with Shawn Lawes on Sunday.

“It is very important for Finlayson to be back because he has roots in the community. it means a lot to him, he is a good leader, he has a lot of experience, and it’s important for him to drive this team forward today (Sunday) and is necessary going forward, and this is just a platform for more good things to come,” Duckie said.

Now up to ninth following only their second win of the campaign, the team that was once leaking goals has been able to stop the hemorrhaging while gathering five points in their four games since the departure of Bailey.

— Dwayne Richards