Gayle faces the sack after loss to Police

After a third straight defeat and five matches without a win, Waterhouse Football Club will part ways with coach Marcel Gayle, a member of the club hierarchy told The Gleaner after the team’s 2-1 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Spanish Town Police, who were scoring their first win of the season, at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

Obviously frustrated, the executive noted that the performances over the course of the season, which has seen the team win just three of 12 matches, had been frustrating for fans and discouraging for sponsors.

Although there has been no official word from the club on Gayle’s future, the executive insists his departure is imminent, and that they are looking at three options to replace Gayle, who has been in charge since 2018 and guided the club to two JPL finals, losing both.

Gayle could not be reached for comment afterwards.

The loss has left Waterhouse ninth on the JPL table with 10 points.

Meanwhile, Spanish Town Police coach William Spencer was all smiles after his team’s first win of the campaign, this after losing 10-2 to Arnett in the previous match.

Diamond Clarke put Spanish Town Police ahead in the 73rd minute, and although Colorado Murray equalised five minute before the end, Jordan Elliston found the winner in added time.

“The 10-2 was a real wake-up call. We made some decisions. We changed up the team and played some people for the first time and it paid dividends,” Spencer said.

Spanish Town Police stayed bottom of the league on five points, but Spencer pointed out that although they are still learning, they merit their place in the league and aim to prove that.

“We are still going to take it one game at a time. But we are grateful and happy for the first win. And we know we belong here and that we can play here.

“It’s a learning process for us, and we will continue to learn. We want to really make a difference and show Jamaica that we are a good team,” he said.

It was a toothless first half from the Drewsland-based club, whose only chance came in the second minute, when Denly Deacon broke down the left and found space inside the area. But his shot was blocked and eventually cleared.

Best chance

Spanish Town Police came into their own and looked more of a threat than their more fancied opponents.

Rojia Layne had the St Catherine-based team’s best chance after 35 minutes, after good work from Elliston down the left, but the Waterhouse defence reacted quickly to block his attempt on goal.

Waterhouse continued to struggle to break down the cellar-dwellers after the break, and Layne had another great opening 20 minutes into the period, but his shot was not strong enough to beat Akeem Bernard in goal.

Spanish Town were rewarded for their discipline and good play in the 73rd minute, when Clarke broke away and rifled a shot past Bernard.

Waterhouse equalised in controversial manner after the assistant referee waved offside earlier in the play; although the ball was cleared, it came directly back into the area, from which Murray scored to tie the game.

However, Police got the winner in added time when Devontay Ricketts headed a ball across goal for Elliston, who arrived and scored from close range.

Nevertheless, Javane Bryan had a glorious chance to equalise moments later but turned his header wide from six yards.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com