'It was a great victory' - Maxwell rejoices as St Georges snap losing streak

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

After losing five games on the trot, coach Geoffrey Maxwell left Lynch Park on Sunday smiling, following his team 1-0 victory over Arnett Gardens in their Digicel Premier League encounter.

It was a curling corner kick from Dwayne Holmes, which scored to give St Georges all three points.

"It was a great victory," commented Maxwell. "I have every confidence in my team and I know that once they get it right and the concentration returns, they will be a force to reckon with.

"I told my players to keep the ball out of the middle and to spread it along the flanks. The guys displayed a high level of discipline and got the job done," added Maxwell. "The margin of victory should have been bigger; nevertheless we got the three points."

Georges played with a lot of flair and courage and could have taken the lead with a mere 46 seconds gone, when Dever Orgill, through a defensive error, picked up a ball inside Arnett's 18-yard box with only the goalkeeper to beat. The striker placed the ball to the left of Maurice Evans, who got a touch, denying Georges an early goal.

Shortly after, Orgill got by two defenders and picked out Richardo Watson, but his shot from inside the 18-yard box went straight to the goalkeeper.

With the rain persisting, which made conditions somewhat slippery, Arnett, probably unfamiliar with such conditions, started to counter through Vando Manning, Kirk Ramsay and Leon Strickland. In one of those attacks, Strickland got by two defenders, but his shot cleared the crossbar.

Arnett's fight

The second half started with Georges pressing forward with the skilful Leon Irving, Orgill, Watson and Girvon Brown in midfield, until they finally broke the deadlock, when Holmes took a curling corner kick from the left side, which resulted in Irving climbing high with the goalkeeper, with the ball ending up in the back of the net in the 56th minute.

Staring down the barrel of defeat, Arnett threw everything into attack through Manning, Ramsay, Strickland, Rohan Reid and Dwayne Gaynor. But tough defending by Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Taylor and Bobby Joe Huie, backed up by outstanding goalkeeping from Randal Huie, kept them at bay.

Losing coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis was graceful in defeat, but admitted that Georges were more determined.

"The conditions were wet but good for football," he said. "We had our chances, but failed to score. Our next game is at home and we are expected to bounce back with a victory over Benfica."