Arnett upstage Waterhouse at Drewsland - Vere, Harbour View contented with goalless finish in JPL

Arnett Gardens overtook Waterhouse in second place in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) after outplaying and beating the Drewsland outfit 1-0 in the feature game of a doubleheader at Drewsland Mini-Stadium on Monday night. Vere United and Harbour View played to a goalless draw in the opening encounter.

The win carried Arnett to second on 24 points, one behind leaders Mount Pleasant. Waterhouse slipped to third with 22 points.

Joel Jones scored the game's only goal 19 minutes into a contest that Arnett dominated and could have scored more had they taken their chances.

Nevertheless, assistant coach Fabian Taylor thought it was a deserved victory.

"I think we controlled most the game. We bossed the first half, hence we got a goal. But I think the boys worked well defensively," he noted..

"On a difficult pitch, it was hard to play our usual type of football but the guys stuck to it and it worked for us," Taylor added.

Arnett took control of the midfield early in the match, while the home team struggled to get their passes together.

Jaheim Thomas got the first sight of goal but he could not beat Waterhouse custodian Kemar Foster with his header from six yards.

The Waterhouse goalie then had to react superbly to parry Warner Brown's diving header over for a corner in the 18th minute.

From the resulting corner Jones redirected Thomas' square past Foster for the opening goal.

Brown should have added to Arnett's lead in the 27th minute but he kicked straight to Foster after breaking through on goal.

The in-form Brown then squandered a glorious chance to add to his league-leading seven goals this season, when he fired wide after beating Foster to 50-50 challenge on the edge of the area.

Waterhouse were a shadow of the team that came into the game in second place, and their only effort on goal was a header in the 33rd minute. However, the visitors remained in charge and ended the half the stronger team, and it needed a strong hand from Foster to keep out Kimani Arbouine's added time free kick.

Arnett continued where they left off in the second half and Brown and Shai Smith wasted good chances.

Waterhouse tried to work themselves into the game but their buildups were predictable and gave very little trouble to the Arnett defence.

"Arnett did what they needed to win the game. But we slacked off on that goal and at this level you can't afford to slack off like that," said Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle.

OPENING MATCH

In the opening match, the result meant that Harbour View's scoreless run has now extended to three games, while Vere Phoenix United's winless run has extended to six.

Harbour View now have 12 points from as many matches, swapping positions with Racing United by moving up to ninth.

Vere Phoenix United climbed off the bottom of the table by securing their 10th point in 12 games, moving two places up from the 14-team table to 12th. Molynes and Humble Lion also have 10 points. Chapelton Maroons are at the foot of the table on nine points.

"We did a lot of transition work this week from defence to offence and that's why we stood up on the day," shared Vere Phoenix United head coach Lenworth Hyde. "We defended well and everybody did well in not giving up a goal. I think that was a plus for the team, we're growing, we're getting better and with the reinforcements coming, we'll get better."

Harbour View are going through a coaching transition and newly appointed Donald Stewart said: "I think we played well. However, our decision making in the final third was a little off. Players weren't taking the responsibility of taking the shots, at times, but we did well and we nullified what they were trying to do."

sports@gleanerjm.com