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Arnett, Racing share spoils
March 11, 2025
Two late goals ensured a dramatic end to the fixture between Arnett Gardens and Racing United last night in the Wray and Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League (JPL) as the teams played out an exciting 2-2 draw at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Tajay Grant (15th minute) opened the scoring for Racing before Warner Brown (first half injury time) pulled the game level.
Jevoun Bascoe (86th) would have thought he gave Racing the win but a desperate header from Shai Smith (93rd) rescued a point for the hosts.
It was a horrid start for the Junglists as a handled ball in the box gave Grant the opportunity to get Racing off the mark from the penalty spot.
Arnett's custodian Tyrone Williams was quick to the floor to make the initial save but was not quick enough to save Grant's follow-up effort.
Arnett came close to an equaliser in the 21st minute as a cross from Fabian Reid found Brown free in the box who could not add the finishing touch.
Brown came close to scoring two minutes later as he drove between three defenders to fire straight into the waiting gloves of the Racing goalkeeper.
Arnett squandered yet another opportunity after being awarded a penalty for a handball by the Racing defence in the 28th minute.
Marlon Martin, in his 100th appearance for the club, stepped up to the plate but saw his resulting effort tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper Omarion Brown.
Arnett again proved wasteful in front of goal, this time as Jamone Shepherd hit a close-ranged effort high and wide of the mark in the 43rd minute.
Brown would break their spell when he found the back of the net just before the half time whistle, firing home a rocket into the roof of the net.
Minutes after the restart, Shepherd let loose an ambitious effort that was inches high. With a bolt from the blue, Bascoe stunned both Arnett players and fans alike as he fired home a half-volley into the back of the net from distance in the dying minutes of the game
In time added, Smith threw his body on the line as he out-jumped his marker and scored a header from close range.
After the match, Racing's assistant coach Paul Walker criticised his team's inability to keep their lead despite an otherwise good performance.
"You have to be disappointed with the two goals we conceded. We conceded the first just before the half time whistle and just before the end of the game, we conceded the next one," he said.
The draw sees Racing maintaining seventh place in the league on 38 points while Arnett also remain second in the standings on 58.
In the earlier match of the double header, Montego Bay United got their second 1-0 win in successive games as they downed Chapelton Maroons.
Shaniel Thomas scored the all-important goal for Montego Bay in the 15th minute of play.
