Arnett Gardens …………………..1 H. Sharpe (70th)
Harbour View……………………..0
A resurgent Arnett Gardens notched their first away win of the season and ended Harbour View’s unbeaten record with a morale-boosting 1-0 result at Harbour View Mini Stadium on Wednesday night.
Midfielder Horace Sharpe got the all-important goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute for the Fabian Davis-coached ‘Junglists’.
The result saw Arnett Gardens, who went goalless, pointless and winless for first three games, climb two places to seven points – half as many as still leaders Harbour View.
Following the sacking of coach Jerome Waite and the appointment of player/coach Davis after former champions Arnett Gardens suffered their fourth consecutive loss, 1-2 away to Sporting, the red-and-black clad aggregation has now garnered seven points (two wins and a draw) from a maximum nine points. And their energy, if not their overall build-up play throughout, belied a team that was lying two places off the cellar position.
In a game lacking control from the man in the middle, referee Karl Tyrell, Arnett Gardens’ first real test came after 20 minutes when Leon Irving tested Dwayne Miller with a firm, low shot after a decent build-up from defence to offence. Harbour View, who had threatened from the opening whistle but just could not make that all-important break through, almost went ahead when Jomo Gordon’s left-sided centre found the wily Jermaine Hue, who collected the ball on his chest on the right side of the penalty area, but watched in dismay as his torrid left-footer missed its mark.
Shortly after the resumption, Hue returned the favour for Gordon with a delicate through pass into the penalty area, but the latter’s first-time strike was easily accepted by Julian McLeish in the Arnett goal.
Hue was by then in his element and created a bit of magic when he victimised Cornel Chin-Sue in midfield and slipped in a delicious pass for substitute Refeik Thomas, but McLeish advanced well to narrow the angle and block the little striker’s effort from close range.
Arnett Gardens responded quickly and reaped their rewards when Irving was clumsily bundled over from behind by Lennox Wright and Tyrell duly pointed to the penalty spot, from which the dreadlocked Sharpe executed perfectly.
But as Arnett Gardens tried to close the game, Thomas had a glorious opportunity to ensure parity for the teams, but McLeish came up big with a fingertip save to deny the home supporters.
Teams
Harbour View – Dwayne Miller, Lennox Wright, Dicoy Williams, Kevin Wooley, Lance Laing, Nicholas Beckett, Oneil Smith, Kemeel Wolfe (Daveion Woodhouse 80th), Jermaine Hue, Mitchily Waul (Refeik Thomas 46th), Jomo Gordon (Marcelino Blackburn 62nd). Booked: Hue (31st), Wright (69th), Smith (86th), Beckett (90th+). Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Ronny Amaguana, Nicholas Dodd, Girvan Brown
Arnett Gardens – Julian McLeish, Anthowe Dawkins, Desmond Breakenridge, Charles Williams, Cornel Chin-Sue, Oneil Robinson, Horace Sharpe, Michael Dixon (Kwame Richardson 46th), Leon Irving (Fabian Davis 81st), Roy Forbes (Gerald Neil 90th+), Ajuran Brown. Booked: Brown (37th, 89th, ejected), Breakenridge (53rd). Subs not used: Joel Messam, Shane Edwards, Calbert Coke, Gregory Simpson. Referee: Karl Tyrell Assistant Referees: Anthony Garwood, Keble Wilkins Fourth Official: Tariq Parchment Match Commissary: Martin Lyn