Lions cool Waterhouse

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Humble Lion's new found confidence was fully on show yesterday, when they beat fifth-place Waterhouse 2-0 in the seventh game of their Digicel Premier League (DPL) Round Three fixture at Effortville Sports Centre.

The scoring honours were shared by their trusted Denzil 'Harry Buller' Watson and Jermaine Ricketts, one of the new acquisitions.

Playing largely the same bolstered side with players brought in through the January transfer window, and who they initially fielded against Tivoli Gardens three games ago, Humble Lion have now scored wins over two of the top contenders.

The seven points mined in this period have now pulled them clear of relegation zone to ninth on 33 points. This is not enough, though, for head coach Lenworth Hyde Sr, who still believes he can get into the safe territory of the top six by the end of the round.

"l know most people didn't believe me when I said there was going to be a turnaround, but it is not finished yet. We have to get to the top six and this is the squad to do it," he commented.

The way to victory was led by Watson, the only striker retained in the new set-up, which started in the two previous rounds. He scored in the second minute of the half-time resumption, burying a rebound he had induced from goalkeeper Joel Messam.

Ordinarily, the home team's second-half game would have disintegrated into defence, but the addition of Ricketts in midfield facilitated an uncharacteristic urgency and ability to play around the ball.

In fact, Ricketts scored late in the game from a good build-up in midfield.

The former Tivoli player, who made his debut in the 0-0 away draw to Portmore, started in midfield yesterday and his inclusion brought to seven the number of new faces in the team.