Waterhouse Football Club extended their unbeaten run to three matches after they came from behind to secure a 1-1 stalemate with Cavalier FC in a lukewarm Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League encounter at Sabina Park on Monday.

Christopher Ainsworth (33rd) sent Cavalier in front, but his strike was cancelled out by Denardo Thomas's 40th-minute strike.

The result saw Waterhouse inching up to seven points and into second position, while Cavalier, who will contest the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final in a few weeks, remain ninth on four points.

What started out as a cagey affair gradually developed after both teams started showing some attacking intent close to the half-hour mark.

Cavalier struck first through Ainsworth, as the 18-year-old executed a deft left-footed effort that had Kemar Foster, in goal for Waterhouse, beaten all ends up. 

Thomas responded to Ainsworth's second goal of the season, with his second as well when he arrived at goalmouth to bury Javane Bryan's pass across the face of goal.

Waterhouse thought they were heading to the break in front when Bryan scored a rebound from Andre Fletcher's initial effort that came back off the upright but was later ruled offside.

Cavalier came out purposeful on the resumption and almost found the go-ahead goal when Jerome McLeary played through Shaneil Thomas, whose effort from close range was kept out by Foster who got down well to his right.

The Drewsland-based Waterhouse again went close in the 62nd minute when Navardo Blair's decent overlapping run down the left channel opened space for a cross inside the danger area. It took a crucial deflection by Cavalier's goalkeeper Jeadine White to avert the danger, as Bryan closed in fast at the far post.

However, the game dropped in tempo from there with chances at a premium, as both teams were seemingly content with sharing the spoils.

Waterhouse's assistant coach Damion Gordon agreed that the performance wasn't their best.

"There were some moments in the game where I think we could have won it, but that's football, we should have taken our chances. What we (and Cavalier) did was try to cancel out each other and I think that is what you saw. In the first half they tried to press us and then second half they sat deep, I think we were the better team but again, it's football and I think there are a lot of things that we can work on, more so how we convert our chances," Gordon declared.

Cavalier's Head coach Rudolph Speid took more pleasure in the outcome.

"It was a good game and I thought we did very well. We were up against a quality team that is on a high from their recent win, so I wouldn't knock my team too hard.

"I would have preferred a win but that is how it goes sometimes. We play to a system all the time, and we are prepared for a long season, it's just the fatigue that we have to guard against," Speid shared.

Matchweek Four Results

Molynes United 1, Mount Pleasant 3

Vere United 1, Montego Bay United 1

Dunbeholden FC 0, Portmore United 2

Treasure Beach 1, Lime Hall 0

Arnett Gardens 1, Tivoli Gardens 3

Harbour View 2, Humble Lion 2

Cavalier 1, Waterhouse 1

Though welcoming the 2-1 win which puts his team in a handy position heading into a break, Cavalier’s Technical Director Rudolph Speid was far from satisfied with his team’s overall execution in a lukewarm Concacaf Caribbean Cup against AC Port of Spain at Sabina Park on Thursday.

In fact, Speid believes the time off augurs well for the Jamaican outfit currently going through a rebuilding phase, as they intend to use it to good effect to improve certain aspects of their game.

While Jalmaro Calvin (8^th) and Christopher Ainsworth (60^th) got the goals for Cavalier, Port of Spain seemed the more dominant team at one point, but for their faulty shooting and some good glove work by Vino Barclett in goal for Cavalier at times.

However, the Trinidad and Tobago team ended with some consolation, courtesy of captain Duane Muckette’s 71^st-minute strike.

With the win, Cavalier, who drew their opening contest 1-1 with another Trinidad and Tobago outfit Defence Force, assumed pole position in Group A on four points. Defence Force, who defeated Golden Lion of Martinique 1-0 on Wednesday, also moved to four points, but are second with an inferior goal difference.

Dominican Republic representative Moca FC are third on three points, with Golden Lion and Port of Spain, still without a point.

Speid agreed as much that his players lacked fitness and their drop in performance at certain points in the game, could have proved costly.

“It’s a new team and we’re trying to rebuild, but it’s three points and we were able to get them. This is our second game of the season, so you have to give and take. We’re not pleased, but we have another match on (September 19^th) and we’ll put in some work to that end,” Speid said in a post-game press conference.

“We were doing some things wrong, but then in the second half, we kind of fixed it, but it’s a long road. We’re happy for the break so we’ll move on and get better as we progress,” he added.

After Calvin fired home from a Ronaldo Robinson assist, Cavalier, instead of pressing home the early ascendancy, opted to sit back and absorb consistent pressure, forcing their St Lucian goalkeeper Barclett to do more than he would have hoped.

In the 15^th minute, Port of Spain’s midfielder John Paul Rochford was allowed space and time on the ball to get a right-footed shot off from a distance which was parried by Barclett diving full stretch to his left.

Cavalier again rode their luck in the 26^th minute when defender Jeovanni Laing was dispossessed deep inside their quarters, paving the way for Che Benny to test his accuracy with a clever effort that kissed the crossbar on its way out.

Port of Spain again went close to pulling level on the stroke of the half-time interval, but Barclett again came up big with reflex save to deny Tyrone Charles, who twirled his way around two defenders to make space for the right-footed shot.

Things were a bit more balanced on the resumption, as Cavalier again showed life on the attacking front and caused a few problems for their Trinidadian counterparts.

But it wasn’t until the hour-mark that they extended the lead from a well-worked counterattacking play. It was orchestrated by Calvin, who picked out an unmarked Ainsworth at the top of the 18-yard box and the young player, sporting the number 11 jersey, maintained his composure to put a left-footed effort beyond Marvin Phillip in goal for Port of Spain.

Down, but not out, Port of Spain fought on bravely and pulled one back through Muckette, who expertly headed past the well-advanced Barclett, who was left in no-man’s land.

Port of Spain’s Head Coach Walter Noriega also rued his team’s sub-par display.

“It’s a disappointing result. I think the boys didn’t execute in the attacking play because we dominated possession, but possession doesn’t win you games. We’ll work on the finishing part and the execution,” he shared.

For their next assignments, Cavalier will play host to Moca on Tuesday, September 19, while Port of Spain will host Golden Lion a day prior.