Arnett Gardens' Leon Strickland (left) turns away from Richard Edwards (centre) and Davion Woodhouse during the Digicel Premier League football match at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday. Strickland scored but Arnett lost 2-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

MARCELINO Blackburn was the first Harbour View player off the field at half-time on Sunday, with his team trailing Arnett Gardens 1-0 from the third minute of their Digicel Premier League clash at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

"Nutten fi yu over yah so Bass," an Arnett fan shouted as Blackburn, Arnett Gardens born, bred and raised, quickly headed for the visitors' dressing room, a door away from the opposing room where he started his Premiership career.

Blackburn, who has twice moved from Arnett Gardens to Harbour View, after not getting sufficient playing time at his hometown club, had a point to prove and came out after the break in a fresh shirt to not only equalise in the 52nd minute, but also provided the assist for Jermaine Hue to fire in an 89th-minute winner.

The win pushed Harbour View to 37 points, one off leaders Portmore United and avenged a 1-0 home loss to Arnett Gardens in the first round.

Blackburn has not only scored some crucial goals for Harbour View this season, he continues to add his own brand of showmanship, not exactly a feature of the almost robotic team, which prides itself on being the 'squeaky clean' guys of the Premiership.

Celebration at the corner flag

Blackburn

A scooter-like celebration at the corner flag was followed by Blackburn hopping onto the perimeter fencing, sitting with his hands folded after he had raced in at the back post to cancel Leon Strickland's early strike for Arnett.

"Don't bother get too hype, Bass," the same Arnett fan shouted, no doubt stung by Blackburn's celebrations.

However, Blackburn's brashness saw him taking responsibility for a free kick on the right side of Arnett's box with a minute remaining, stepping up to claim the spot kick ahead of his captain Jermaine Hue and another designated striker of the ball, Lance Laing.

The free kick soared high after being blocked at close range by a defender, but Blackburn followed through, won possession and laid off for Hue, who drifted to his favourite left side and let fly with a 25-yard grounder from the top of the box, too precise for Julian McLeish diving full stretch to his left to keep out of his goal.

It was Harbour View's first win in four games, a slump which cost them the lead and Brazilian coach Waldemar de Oliveira was happy for the victory after a 1-0 loss to Boys' Town just days earlier.

"We win games everyday," he said. "We will do it step by step and we continue to play magnificent, nice football."

Arnett, who stayed seventh on 21 points, got their fair share of chances but Kevin Wilson, who got a sitter on the stroke of half-time, awaiting Gerald Neil's square from the right, took too long to find his sights and his shot was blocked by a defender on the edge of the six-yard box.

Player-coach Fabian Davis said his team performed well for the first half but Harbour View came out a better side after the break.

"We came out and did pretty well in the first 45 minutes, creating opportunities and scored, but we should have put away more than one," he pointed out.

"Harbour View came out organised for the second half. It's a little setback for us but you win some and lose some. We just have to get ready for Sunday," Davis added, looking to a home clash with promoted Meadhaven tomorrow afternoon.