Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

Arnett Gardens midfielder Fabian Davis (centre) uses his knee to push the ball past Village United's Lacon Brissett (left), while Everett Mullings of Village looks on during the Cash Plus Premier League football match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday. Brissett scored a hat-trick as Village won 3-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

HAVING been denied a second chance after failing to impress in his stint at Arnett Gardens, Lacon Brissett was determined to make an impression on his return to Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex Sunday in Village United colours.

In emphatic fashion, the left-sided midfielder made his statement loud and clear, firing all his team's goals past the Junglists to hand them an important victory - 3-1 in their Cash Plus Premier League match-up. Kevin Wilson netted an 18th minute penalty for Arnett.

The 25-year old left-footer ghosted in on the blind side of defence on all three occasions, getting the ball rolling with a far-post header off a free kick in the first minute, before streaking on the flank past Gerald Neil to bury incisive passes from Fabian Dawkins at the 49th and 66th minutes.

"'Kunta' (Neil) was staying defensive. Their plan was to get me out of the game, so I just stayed off him until the ball was played into the space," assessed Brissett of the moves that allowed him clear passage to score.

"I feel very good about this hat-trick today," he added. "I was very focused for this game.

"I played a season at Arnett and I never performed at the level I know I'm capable of. I asked them to give me another chance and they didn't," exclaimed the former Bounty Hall Primary and Muschette Comprehensive student.

Brissett, who has been a part of both the national junior and senior set-up, gained prominence at Village before moving to Wadadah, Seba and Arnett.

"Right now the coach is pushing me to get back into the national programme.

I've been working hard and right now I'm looking to get a call," noted Brissett who has come full circle to his hometown team to link up with former national striker Paul 'Tegat' Davis, who now serves as Village's coach, and delivered the latest of many crucial blows in their spectacular revival.

Point standings

Once languishing at the bottom of the standings, seven victories in their last eight matches have catapulted them to seventh on 35 points, four ahead of Arnett who started the game one point adrift the Trelawny team.

"We needed these three points," said Brissett whose brother Lamar is the sweeper for Trelawny division one team Harmony FC "We're looking to finish in the top six and take it from there."

As they are only five ahead of second from bottom Reno, Davis says they have lots of work still.

"We're not out of the relegation zone," the coach was quick to point out. "We've a lot of games to play.

"It was important to win because they were right behind us, but we're not looking at them alone, we want to win all the games. We're going to take every game stride by stride. We played a good second half and capitalised on the errors that Arnett Gardens made. I thought we should've scored more goals."

He added: "This team is performing well and we've to keep motivating them. It's important to win all the games."

Regarding his midfielder's telling contribution, Davis says: "I keep telling him that as a midfielder you've to pop up on the blind side of the defence and that's how he got those three goals. He's a good player ... sometimes he lapses but he has a good personality."

Brissett apart, Village showed good character and could have scored more goals against an Arnett team that found it difficult to find a rhythm, despite a very strong performance from midfielder Fabian Davis. And their coach, Jerome Waite, didn't search for reasons why they lost.

"It was a hard fought loss at home. Until now the team hasn't shown that determination at home, but that's no excuse for losing. Today we looked lacklustre."

He added: "All in all the Village team played well. They came with a purpose and it paid off."

Arnett 1

Kevin Wilson 18th (pen.)

Village 3

Lacon Brissett 1st, 49th, 66th