Johnson credits players for impressive victory

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

TWO matches into the new Digicel Premier League season, coach Baris Johnson heaped praises on his team Sunday night after a 4-1 trouncing of newcomers Benfica, three points added to their opening-match 2-0 victory over Sporting Central on the road.

The former Excelsior Manning and Walker Cup winner beamed with pride as he paced amid his players, some of whom he played alongside at Waterhouse under former coach Geoffrey Maxwell.

When Maxwell was axed at the end of last season from his third spell at the Drewsland-based club, Johnson was named as his successor after speculations ran wild that that another former coach, Paul Young, would have returned.

Perfect start

A perfect start and consistency, Johnson told his players, are what he is banking on for Waterhouse to go all the way after finishing third last season, 17 points behind runaway winners Harbour View and six adrift runners-up Tivoli.

"It was a very good performance. We worked hard this week. Hats off to the players. They gave a hundred and fifty (per cent)," Johnson remarked after Weston Forrest, captain Kenardo Forbes, substitute Andre Clennon and Vincent Earle delighted fans with goals in the 16th, 47th, 73rd and 79th minutes, respectively.

Former national full-back, Garfield Reid, who played at Waterhouse for a season, headed in Benfica's consolation goal in the 54th minute, giving the Premiership debutants a glimmer of hope as they reduced the deficit to a one-goal margin shortly after the break.

However, that was the closest the St Ann-based team got to Water-house, despite being bolstered with numerous experienced attackers such as the former Portmore United duo of Wolry Wolfe and Carlington Smith.

Waterhouse ran hard on and off the ball, especially down the right flank where Forbes prowled, in the second half, dismissing Benfica's defenders at will.

Opening goal

Three of Waterhouse's goals started down the right flank. Their opening goal was set up by striker Jermaine Anderson, who broke out of midfield, sped down the wing and squared for Forrest to tuck away.

Benfica still had plenty fight heading into the dressing room a goal down, but it took only two minutes after the restart for Forrest to break away down the right - in front a packed house - to put Forbes one-on-one with goalkeeper Leighton Murray. It was a done deal and the classy midfielder measured the goalie from the penalty spot before slotting the ball into the right corner of goal.

Reid had Benfica's travelling supporters shouting with glee after he met substitute Wolfe's square from the right at the near post, heading cleanly into goal from six yards.

Match-changing move

After Anderson booted Kemar Thomas' cross over the bar from four yards in the 68th, Johnson decided he had enough of the striker's near misses for one evening and summoned Clennon off the bench, a match-changing move which provided two goals in nine minutes.

Clennon got his name on the scoresheet three minutes after taking the field. Sent clear in midfield by Earle, Clennon easily beat the lone defender and Murray advancing off his line.

The substitute became provider in the 79th, blasting a grounder at Murray after breaking free down the right. The goalie could only manage to push the ball to his far post, where Earle rushed in for a simple tap into goal.

Benfica coach Harold Thomas admitted his team needed to "tighten up defensively" and bemoaned the early loss of its captain.

"Inexperience was a part of it plus we lost our influential captain early. We brought it back to 2-1 but they got two clear off-side goals," he complained, as his team slumped to the bottom of the standings with back-to-back losses.

Sunday's Results

Humble Lion 0

Boys' Town 1

St Georges 1

Harbour View 1

Arnett 0

Village 3

Tivoli 1

Sporting Central 0

Waterhouse 4 Benfica 1

Portmore 3 Village 0