Arnett Gardens ‘steals’ points at home against Waterhouse

Photo: Waterhouse forward Kenroy Howell drives away from Arnett Gardens midfielder Jason Moore during their Red Stripe Premier League game on Sunday. Kemal Malcolm scored the lone goal of the contest as the defending champions claimed all three points.

Arnett Gardens ‘stole’ all three points at home in the Red Stripe Premier League when they clipped visitors Waterhouse FC 1-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday courtesy of an 86^th minute strike from Kemal Malcolm in an exciting and entertaining contest.

Malcolm will receive all the headlines for scoring the winner but the real hero for Arnett Gardens was goalkeeper Damian Hyatt who pulled off a string of fine saves during the match to keep his team in the contest and deny a deserving Waterhouse what would have been a critical three points.

Hyatt was in the thick of things early when Waterhouse captain Damarley Samuels broke down the left and delivered a pin point cross for Kenroy Howell near the penalty spot, but the striker was denied by a brilliant block from the Arnett custodian.

Malcolm was Arnett’s best outfield player on the night and he provided a decent cross for Andre Moulton whose header went over the crossbar.

Waterhouse’s leading goal scorer Jermaine Anderson also brought out a fine save from Hyatt when his shot at the near post was brilliant blocked.

The visitors were attacking in waves and another shot from Howell went just over the crossbar before Kemar Beckford twisted and turned the Arnett defenders this way and that, then fired on goal, only to be denied by the alert Hyatt.

But the home team was being led by the willing Malcolm whose 25 yard curling free kick had to be tipped over the crossbar by Shannon Barclay.

Waterhouse right back, Oshane Roberts, had a thumping effort on target that came from the middle of his instep and it had Hyatt backing up as he blocked with both hands.

The home team created the last scoring opportunity of the first half when Vishinul Harris produced a brilliant bit of skill to get by two defenders before playing in Malcolm inside the box. Unbalanced and under pressure, Malcolm’s shot sizzled high into the night sky.

The attacking duo of Walcott and Beckford continued where they left off from the first half for Waterhouse, running at the Arnett Gardens defenders and constantly threatening their goal. Hyatt had to produce another two fisted block to keep out Walcott shortly after the restart.

Then it was time for Waterhouse defender Rohan Amos to be the hero for the visitors when he remained alert to clear a shot from Malcolm off the goal line when all the home supporters though the ball had gone in.

The end to end stuff continued and Beckford headed down a cross for Walcott whose shot went high from close range.

With time ticking away the visitors kept pressing for the go ahead goal and Omar Walcott almost had his name on the score sheet only to see Hyatt with another brilliant effort, diving to his left to save.

Howell and Beckford kept running and when Beckford played in Howell it appeared striker must score, but after rounding Hyatt he ran out of real estate and his shot smashed into the stansion behind the goal.

The game was seemingly heading for a 0-0 draw when Malcolm struck with four minutes on the clock. A free kick from Marcelino Blackburn was headed off the line but when the ball was played back into the area, Malcolm was on hand at the back post to force home the winner to the delight of the home crowd.

The downtrodden look on the faces of the Waterhouse players, at the sound of the final whistle, told the full story of a team that had not had lady luck on their side.

“Hyatt was outstanding, he was eventually the outstanding player of the game” admitted Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite. “But as long as you can keep a lot of clean sheets it will make a difference. This time we came up big after the substitutions were made.”

The win lifts the defending champions into third position with 13 points, above FC Reno (12 points) who could only draw with the stuttering Portmore United who have drawn their last three games, but still hold onto second place with 15 points.

The struggling Harbour View with 7 points in 10^th place, host an improving Rivoli United who have 10 points and can move from 7^th place to 4^th place with a win in the Monday night game at the Harbour View Stadium starting at 8:30.