Arnett keep round final dream alive

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Arnett Gardens kept their hopes of making the second-end-of-round final alive, as they clawed their way back to earn a one-all draw with first-end-of-round final winners Tivoli Gardens in their Digicel Premier League encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

Roland Dean struck in the 39th minute to put the home team ahead, but an 88th-minute equaliser from Arnett captain Kirk Ramsay earned the Junglists a share of the points.

Tivoli, who were coming off a three games winless run, now extended to four, went on the attack from the opening whistle as their leading marksman, Devon Hodges, forced an excellent save out of Arnett's custodian Maurice Evans.

Evans, however, had no answer to Dean's 39th-minute strike, which marked his fourth goal of the season. He collected a pass with his back to goal from Shawn McKoy on the edge of the area. He was then allowed too much room by his marker, which he utilised and turned before getting off a brilliant shot, which snuck in at the far post.

Arnett came out in the second half a more purposeful unit, as they went in search of the equaliser and came close in the 86th minute when Newton Sterling got his head to a Gerald Neil free kick. Tivoli's keeper, Edsel Scott, had to dive full stretch to his right to push the ball around the post.

Arnett were, however, not to be denied and pulled level in the 88th minute when Rohan Reid slipped a pass through to Ramsay from the halfway line to beat the Tivoli's offside trap. Ramsay ran untroubled into the area before unleashing a powerful left footer, which despite getting a hand to Scott could not keep out.

Alterations

Arnett Gardens' coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis attributed his team's comeback to alterations made in the second half.

"I think in first half we played lackadaisically, we allowed Tivoli to just win all the first and second balls," Davis said. "In the second half, we made the adjustment again playing a three-forward system and putting some pressure on them. We put a little more urgency in the second half and I think we deserved to get a goal," he added.

Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, assistant coach of Tivoli Gardens, blamed a lapse in concentration for the goal conceded.

"It was just a lack of concentration in the last couple of minutes of the game and they caught us on the counter, a very good one," Bailey pointed out.

"In the second half, I think we slacked off a little and allowed Arnett to come at us," he added.