By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Arnett Gardens' Oneil Dunn (left) intercepts a ball to Harbour View's Fabian Taylor during the JNBS Federation Cup Knock Out encounter at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. Taylor scored twice in Harbour View's 3-1 win. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Harbour View will face Hazard United in the final of the Jamaica National Building Society Federation Cup Knock Out competition.
In advancing to the final Harbour View, who had also beaten Arnett Gardens at this stage of the competition this year but found it difficult o get by that opposition this season, ended a five-game winless streak against them to win 3-1.
Fabian Taylor who, failed to score against Cuba in two friendlies last week in that country, scored a double in the 58th and 69th minutes at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
Daniel Shaw had opened the scoring in the 19th minute following which Walter Boyd equalised for Arnett Gardens with a freekick in the 26th minute.
"It is nice to shake off the monkey in the jungle," said a beaming Harbour View coach at the end of the game.
Arnett Gardens' Jerome Waite, while disappointed that he will have to wait another season to lift the Federation Cup, was gracious in defeat. "Harbour View looked the better team today. They did everything to win," said Waite.
In the opening game Roen Nelson, another man who could not find the net in Cuba came up with a classy header to give Hazard a hard-fought win over a determined Rivoli. This was after Rivoli who took a disciplined approach to the game created and missed a number of chances.
Harbour View almost always looked a step sharper than the Arnett Gardens team which on a few occasions clicked.
Despite Harbour View's better play, Arnett Gardens could consider themselves unfortunate for the manner in which they conceded the first goal. With sweeper Wayne Ellis out injured and Alex Thomas yet to enter the field, Boyd cut in between Craig and Damion Stewart just outside the Harbour View 18-yard box. Damion Stewart ran straight into Boyd but no foul was called and Harbour View capitalised on the break.
Three minutes after the usually reliable Jermaine Hue had placed a freekick just wide of the goal, Boyd made good on his effort for Arnett Gardens. He measured the five-man wall placed in front of goalkeeper Leon Gordon as his shot from the right of the goal nestled inside the upper left-hand corner of the goal with Gordon moving in the opposite dircetion.
With the goal the momentum shifted away from Harbour View but that would change in the second half.
Taylor scored the first of his two goals in the 58th minute when he headed home a ball played back across the goal by Craig Stewart. Hue had put a basketball block on Jermaine Benjamin which allowed Shaw to break down the right flank and cross for Stewart to play it back allowing Taylor to head it into an empty net.
Arnett Gardens tried their best to get back into the game forcing a number of corners and not even the belated introduction of Kevin Wilson for Benjamin could come up with a goal for them. Instead they contributed to Harbour View's third goal.
Under no pressure at all Fabian Davis made a bad pass to Jonathan Williams which was picked off by Shaw. Shaw found substitute Nicholas McCreath who broke further down the right flank to cross low - the third cross from the right flank to result in a goal - for Taylor to tap home.
The Harbour View win ensured that Arnett Gardens who leave the island today for their return leg Concacaf Club Championship game against Mexico's Necaxa do not have a happy send off.
