JPL semis end in draws

Waterhouse and Mount Pleasant Academy, like it was in the first leg semi-final between Arnett Gardens and Cavalier, could not separate themselves in their clash in the Jamaica Premier League.

In the end, the teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw, with the defending champions Mount Pleasant, having to come from behind to ensure they go into the second leg all-squared.

Earlier, Arnett and Cavalier also battled to a 1-1 draw, with Jaheim Thomas providing Arnett with a 40th-minute lead and Jalmaro Calvin equalising three minutes later.

In the second match, from the opening whistle, Mount Pleasant came out with all guns blazing and thought they had gotten the opening goal in the first half, but the offside flag had gone up after Shaquille Bradford had put the ball into the net.

That period brought Waterhouse to life, who came into their own as the contest went on, with Javane Bryan's rocket rattling the crossbar.

He eventually got the ball across the line in the 46th minute as a nifty backheel from Denardo Thomas inside the area set up Bryan who calmly finished off his 17th goal of the season, the joint lead with Tivoli Gardens' Justin Dunn.

Like true champions, Mount Pleasant was not perturbed, and they hit back in the 73rd minute when captain Sue-Lae McCalla headed home from close range following a corner to pull the champions level.

The game would end sourly for Waterhouse as their top striker Bryan was stretchered off after an injury in stoppage time. Up to press time it was still not yet determined the extent of the injury.

Mount Pleasant captain McCalla believed they should have sealed the encounter and taken a lead into the second leg.

"It took a while for us to get into our game rhythm because we have been out for a while, but we created several opportunities and if we were more clinical, we should have put this game away."

Waterhouse assistant coach Damion Gordon said they let the game slip after taking the crucial lead.

"I think we lost a bit of concentration on that set piece, but it is a learning process for us, I think we should have dealt with this game pretty well."