Portmore's Roen Nelson (centre) dribbles past a Waterhouse defender, while other Waterhouse players Marco McDonald (second right) and Rohan Amos react, during the Digicel Premier League match at the Ferdie Neita Park, in Braeton, Portmore, St Catherine, on Sunday night. The game ended 0-0. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
Not even top striker Roen 'Bumpy' Nelson could ruin the return of Paul Young to Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday night.
Paul Young, a former player and head coach of Portmore United, led Waterhouse to a creditable 0-0 draw against the Digicel Premier League leaders.
Portmore inched to 39 points, one ahead of second place Harbour View which drew 0-0 with Tivoli Gardens, while, Waterhouse remained in sixth position on 24 points.
Young said "... it was a weird feeling" driving into Ferdie Neita Park to play against a team he once played for and coached.
He said the 0-0 scoreline was a fair result, considering that Portmore are the league leaders and playing at home. He admitted that Portmore took control of the match near the end because of his team's lack of physical conditioning, and added that Waterhouse accepted him with open arms.
Quality players
"There are quality players there (at Waterhouse). The players have been respectful and responsive," Young noted.
Coach of Portmore United, Linval Dixon, a former teammate of Young, also thought it was a fair result. He added that he really wanted to win this game because they were playing at home.
In an heated contest, referee Recardo Sailsman flashed six yellow cards, four to Portmore and two to Waterhouse.
The introduction of Wolry Wolfe (46th) and Tremaine Stewart (76th) in the second half put some punch in the Portmore attack Nelson started getting more balls than in the first half.
Stewart actually made more impact on the game, being a thorn in the Waterhouse defence. He almost gave them a penalty in the 85th minute, as it appeared he was dragged down in the penalty box by a Waterhouse defender, but referee Sailsman thought otherwise, instructing the teams to play on.
Five minutes earlier, Nelson thought he had found the winner, but his shot from an acute angle was parried for a corner by an alert Richard McCullum in goal for Waterhouse.
The play saw Nelson dazzling three defenders before getting off a shot and bringing the crowd to life and it highlighted an attacking spell lasting about 12 minutes.
However, it was Waterhouse's game to win in the first half as they threatened the Portmore goal through Kevin Lamey, Kenardo Forbes, Vincent Earle and Reberto Fletcher, but could not finish off good plays from their midfielders.
Earle thought he had breached the Portmore defence in 22nd minute and got a free header, which went wide of Shawn Sawyers' left post.
However, it wouldn't have counted, as Sailsman ruled off-side.