Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter
Arnett Gardens central defender Alex Thomas (second left) crashes into Village United midfielder Fabian Dawkins (second right) as they battle for the ball alongside another Arnett player, Horace Sharpe (left), during their Cash Plus Premier League match at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. Looking on is Arnett's Horace Sharpe. The game ended 1-1. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
It was an incredible battle for supremacy as Arnett Gardens and Village United fought to a 1-1 draw in the Cash Plus Premier League at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
Village United, who started at the bottom of the league on one point, doubled their tally, while eighth-place Arnett Gardens moved up to eight points.
Persistent rain and howling winds throughout the game made play more difficult than had been anticipated.
Slow pace
In the first half, both teams started at a slow pace and play in midfield was appalling, due to the heavy underfoot conditions. The situation was further worsened by the fact that Village United played with only one forward, which effectively hampered their offensives.
Arnett, in the meantime, made one good attempt off a free kick from Kenrick Rodriques, but the half ended 0-0.
Dismal play continued into the second half as both teams showed no apparent control of the ball. Arnett Gardens picked up the pace in the 52nd minute with a header from Kevin Wilson that fell just wide of the goal. Wilson had a clear shot on goal, one cannot fathom how he missed.
Miracles
Both teams executed numerous substitutions in the second half. These changes seemingly worked miracles as Ian McAnuff finished a low cross across goalmouth from Leon Irving as Village United registered their only goal in the 60th minute.
Arnett Gardens were awakened from the dead by Village's lead and within five minutes they scored when Leon Strickland hit a shot that appeared to have already crossed the goalline, when substitute Marvin Morgan made sure by hitting it high into the net. Strangely, the ref claimed the goal was scored by Kevin Wilson, who was not involved in the play.
"We lost focus in the first half," Village's coach Fitzroy Reid said. "Team members need to play their role and be competitive and committed to this effort."
Max Straw, coach of Arnett, thought his team threw away many chances to score.
"We had a couple of chances and we didn't put away that extra one. If a team does not score more than the opponent, they cannot win," Straw said.
| Arnett | 1 |
Leon Strickland 65th Village | 1 |
Ian McAnuff 60th
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