Arnett's Kevin Wilson
WATERHOUSE coach Paul Young is nervously eyeing the two-point gap between his fifth-place team and the pair of Arnett Gardens and St Georges, sixth and seventh, respectively, as the crucial third round of the Digicel Premier League winds down.
With three games to go before the league is split - the top six playing each other in the fourth and final round, whereas the lower six will play to decide relegation - Young's Waterhouse gave up valuable ground in Wednesday's 1-0 home loss to defending champions Portmore United.
Mario Swaby fired in a ball punched to his feet by Waterhouse goalie Richard McCallum, parrying a left-sided free kick whipped into his six-yard box.
Waterhouse are down to play Boys' Town today at Collie Smith Drive, where they lost 3-0 in the first round before doubling the favour 6-2 at Drewsland in their return tie.
However, Young said he was very much concerned after Waterhouse's 0-1 home loss to Tivoli kept them fifth on 41 points, just ahead of sixth-place Arnett on 40 and St Georges in seventh with 39.
"Arnett won so, of course, I am worried," he said after watching Swaby beat Richard McCallum from 12 yards.
Five-match unbeaten streak
"We still have some more games to get back on track but we have our work cut out for us," added Young, who took Waterhouse on a five-match unbeaten streak after taking over mid-January.
Arnett have loomed dangerously into sixth spot after clobbering Meadhaven 3-0 at Constant Spring, led by Kevin Wilson's double in the 63rd and 89th minutes.
The Junglists jumped into sixth place with 40 points, their highest ranking this season, displacing St Georges, 39, after the Portlanders' 1-0 loss at the Spanish Town Prison Oval to eighth-place Rivoli on 34 points.
Young said his team was not outplayed by Portmore but admitted they were a little flat in the first half.
"We picked it up in the second half but were not executing in the final third," he said.
Boys' Town are still seething from their 6-2 debacle at Waterhouse and will be burning to put it across their rivals against whom they have exchanged 11 goals in two meetings.
The Red Brigade gave up a stoppage-time goal at Sporting Central to Levaughn Williams after Renae Lloyd fired them ahead in the 74th minute on Wednesday, but will be much tougher at home.
Tivoli Gardens vs Portmore United at Edward Seaga Stadium - 5 p.m.
Boys' Town vs Waterhouse at Collie Smith Drive - 4 p.m.
Harbour View vs Sporting Central Academy at Harbour View - 6:30 p.m.
St Georges vs Arnett Gardens at Lynch Park - 4 p.m.
Reno vs Rivoli United at Frome Sports Complex - 4 p.m.
Village United vs Meadhaven United at Elliston Wakeland Centre - 4 p.m.
DPL STANDINGS
Teams Pld W D L GF GA GD PTS
Portmore 30 18 9 3 40 15 25 63
Harbour View 30 16 11 3 40 14 26 59
Boys' Town 30 14 9 7 47 33 14 51
Tivoli 30 14 8 8 39 27 12 50
Waterhouse 30 10 11 9 36 33 3 41
Arnett 30 10 10 10 25 25 0 40
St Georges 30 11 8 11 26 29 -3 39
Rivoli 30 9 7 14 30 42 -12 34
Sport Central 30 7 10 13 28 37 -9 31
Meadhaven 30 6 8 16 24 44 -20 26
Reno 30 4 13 13 30 43 -13 25
Village 30 4 11 15 23 46 13 23