Photo: Arnett Gardens two goal hero Leon Striickland drives past Waterhouse midfielder Juvaune Benjamin during the Red Stripe Premier League Monday Night fixture at Dewsland. Ryan Swire of Waterhouse and Andrew Phang of Arnett Gardens look on. Arnett Gardens won 3-1 for their first win at that ground since 2011.
Arnett garden versus Waterhouse is always a very hot contest and the final Monday Night game of the calendar year brought out the fans in their numbers. With both teams in the top four it only served to add flavour to the contest and the stadium was packed to capacity even before kick-off.
The two teams did not really create any chances in the first ten minutes of play. It was a rather physical game between the two rivals, especially in midfield. Neither team was able to possess the ball for long periods and this led to very few chances being created.
The game was not short of crunching tackles and it resulted in two yellow cards in the first 15 minutes. Both team had one to their name.
This first real opening was created when Damarley Samuels went down the left side, skipped past Marvin Morgan but his his teasing cross was well collected the goalkeeper Peter Harrison before Juvaune Benjamin could get a touch.
Andre Clennon’s powerful shot barely missed the goal in the 30th minute which was Arnett’s first shot at goal.
Both teams failed to make an impression in midfield. The tackles were hard and both teams were taking numerous of long range efforts that were not troublesome for either goalkeeper.
Arnett Garden could have gone ahead in the 41st minute when the ball slipped out of the hands of Richard McCallum but Marcelino Blackburn could not put the ball beyond the keeper who stuck out his hand outside the eighteen yard box to block the ball and was lucky not to be shown a red card.
Hughan Gray who has been kicking the ball well but could not find the target, found the target in minute 45th with a wonderfully struck shot from the right side of the eighteen yard box and Harrison had no chance in goal.
Waterhouse did not lead for long. A long ball played into the Waterhouse box was headed home by Decoy Williams in first half stoppage time.
The first stanza ended 1-1; it was a very disappointing first forty minutes of football as both teams fail to create goal scoring opportunities despite the two late goals.
The contest continued to be a very physical one on the resumption, in a blood and thunder contest where neither team held back.
Arnett Garden took the lead the in the 55th minute. Andre Clennon did well to hold up the ball and wait on support. He then fed Leon Strickland whose powerfully volley went beyond the reach of McCallum.
Strickland completed his double in the 58th minute with a superb shot from 26 yards that went past McCallum’s arms and into the back of the net to make it 3-1. Arnett Garden was looking more dangerous and was outplaying Waterhouse on their own patch.
Waterhouse dug their hole deeper when Juvaunie Benjamin was shown a red card in minute 69th for flashing his elbows in the face of Oneil Thompson.
Despite Waterhouse being a man down the game was still a tough one and the tackles were very much involved.
Arnett was looking comfortable with the two goal advantage and was strong at the back. Decoy Williams was very disciplined at the back. Renae Lloyd was breaking up plays in midfield.
The game produces four marvelous goals that could be contenders for goal of the season.
Arnett Gardens remained in second place on 32 points behind Montego Bay United who lead them on goal difference. Waterhouse sit third on 28 points while Harbour View, who lost on Sunday, complete the top four.
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