Waterhouse defender Marco McDonald (centre), Newton Sterling (second left) and goalkeeper Maurice Evans (left) react after Waterhouse's Garfield Reid (partly hidden) headed the ball, in a challenge with Arnett's Oneil Robinson (right), during the Cash Plus Premier League match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. The teams tied 1-1. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

INJURED CUSTODIAN Maurice Evans made a big save and rescued Waterhouse in a heart-stopping moment within the last few minutes, to ensure a 1-1 draw against resurging Arnett Gardens in an attractive Cash Plus Premier League contest at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex last night.

As the clock neared the 90th-minute mark, Arnett launched a long pass into the box that was met by their big forward, Onandi Lowe, who headed perfectly into the path of Kwame Richardson. Unchallenged, the striker appeared certain to grab all three points for the 'Junglists'. He hit a firm shot with the side of his boot but Evans used his body to keep the ball out of goal and maintain the tied result in a game the homesters led at the 13th minute.

"It's a draw but I'm disappointed," Arnett's coach, Jerome Waite, remarked at the finish. "At this level, when you create certain chances, you are supposed to score."

Improving

Arnett, in the relegation zone last round, keep improving with the inclusion of experienced players Lowe, Fabian Davis, Cornel Chin-Sue and Richardson to advance to 29 points and remain fifth, while Waterhouse stayed third as they moved to 38. Before last night's late game against Boys' Town, Portmore led on 44.

Interestingly, Waterhouse coach, Wayne Fairclough, was also unhappy because he believed his team should also have won.

"I think we played good enough to win. I'm at a loss for words why we didn't win. We created the chances but didn't score," Fairclough said. "I'm a bit disappointed but Arnett Gardens are growing from strength to strength."

A succession of corners by Fabian Davis preceded the opening goal, with Adonijah Cameron - back to goal - heading a pass to Chin-Sue whose left-footed shot from the side of his boot sailed untroubled through a sea of players for a 1-0 margin.

Asleep

It seemed imminent, based on Arnett's dominance, that they might have doubled that margin on several occasions in the first half when Waterhouse were asleep but a string of fine saves from Evans, who turned headers from Davis and Oneil Robinson over goal, kept his side in the game.

Strangely, the Drewsland team's keeper had probably his easiest save on the most open Arnett scoring chance when Robinson's cross from the left curled to an unmarked Richardson. However, the forward side-footed one time, though firmly, straight into Evans' midriff.

They paid for that miss with an equaliser completely against the run of play in the 27th-minute, when Arnett defender Jerry Walters beat recently transferred former Arnett striker Leon Strickland to a long ball, only for the latter to surprise him with a quick response on his outside and kick the ball. It hit Walters' hand.

Referee Courtney Campbell, after consulting his assistant Ricardo Morgan who was within 10 yards of the play, and had waved his flag, awarded a penalty. There was some amount of protest by players with the officials, but big-kicking Reid remained focused and calmly placed a perfect kick along the ground, inside the side-netting.

There were no clear opportunities to score between then and the half, but Arnett still maintained total control with possession and offensives into Waterhouse's area, while the visitors had great difficulty getting beyond the middle third.

Commenting on their play in the first half, Fairclough said: "We've been starting very slowly for the last seven to eight games and I can't put my fingers on the pulse why we have been getting slow starts."

Chances

Waterhouse awoke from their slumber and changed that sequence in the first 15 minutes of the second half with two chances, only to see Reid's shot from inside the penalty box blocked and their chief architect, Vincent Earle, curl a shot over the bar after a majestic build-up.

Arnett replied with some changes that brought more energy to their tiring midfield and evened the game that opened into a fine battle towards the last half-hour, during which Lowe and substitute Horace Sharpe turned headers wide for Arnett and Davis had a dipping 45-yard effort acrobatically tipped over goal by Evans, until Richardson's miss as the minutes dwindled.