Dawkins strikes late to lift Arnett Gardens

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis and Fabian Dawkins on Sunday showed Village United what they were missing when they combined to hand Arnett Gardens a 1-0 win over the Falmouth-based team in the Digicel Premier League (DPL) at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Davis guided Village to National Premier League promotion and has had other stints with them, while Dawkins was their primary goalscorer for close to a decade before departing last season. Dawkins' strike came in the 90th minute to give Arnett Gardens only their third win of the season and the first under Davis in his second match in charge.

With the win, Arnett Gardens inched a place up the table to ninth with 14 points, while Village moved in the other direction to 10th on 12 points.

While the visiting team settled early, the home team, with Fabian Reid making his DPL debut and goalkeeper Maurice Evans making his club debut, looked much fitter and more like a unit. In addition to the personnel changes, there were also positional changes as captain for the day, Gerald Neil, was pulled out of his holding midfield role and placed at right back, while Rohan Reid, who was previously employed as a central defender, was thrust further forward into central midfield.

In a game which saw very few moments of true brilliance, both teams created chances, with the better ones falling to the home team. In the 15th minute, the promising debutant, Fabian Reid, let fly a volley from just outside the 18-yard box, which deflected to teammate Leon Strickland inside the box. Strickland failed to control and could not capitalise on the opportunity.

Build-up

Village's Graeme Green had his fine effort deflected for a corner in the 29th minute after a good build-up by his team.

Kirk Ramsay had the best opportunity to break the deadlock in the 40th minute. Rasheede Clarke sent in a teasing cross from the right flank, but Ramsay's downward header lacked the power and direction to beat a sharp-looking Keith Hamilton in goal for Village. Strickland, who looked in a hungry mood, had a good effort sail just wide in the 42nd minute.

Both teams made a number of changes in the second half in a bid to get the upper hand. Village introduced Jerome Eccleston to shore up the defence, and Dino Williams to add punch up front, while Arnett Gardens threw on Dawkins and Ricardo 'Mandela' Stern.

Village United gradually gained in ascendancy and gradually took over the midfield and control of the game. They kept this up towards the end, only for them to suffer heartbreak with Dawkins' strike.

The former Village United hero drove home a rebound through a crowd of players to sink the hearts of his former teammates and their supporters.

Questionable call

"It is very disappointing. We had the better run of play for most of the game. We lost the game in the last five minutes based upon a very questionable call. I thought the ball was handled, and we suffered for it," was how Hopeton Gilchrist of Village summed up the game.

Arnett Gardens' Davis was much happier.

"It was a good game. (There were) two youthful teams playing good football. I thought that the level of fitness really showed, and the concentration paid off for us today," Davis said, adding that there was still work to be done.