Late goal downs home team Arnett

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Omar Davies was both a winner and a loser in the Digicel Premier League (DPL) on Wednesday evening at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Davies, who represents St Georges, netted the 84th-minute winner for his team's 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens, the club chaired by the parliamentarian of the same name. Being graceful in defeat, the parliamentarian sought out the player at the end of the game to congratulate him on his performance.

While Omar Davies was congratulating the goalscorer another Davis, Paul 'Tegat', Arnett Gardens coach, was bitterly disappointed with his team's poor showing.

"When you see me sitting down for this interview you must know that I am really angry with these guys. There was no energy, nothing in the team today. We just played poorly," said Paul Davis, whose team was suffering its first home loss under his charge.

As far as the coach was concerned, there were enough chances for his team to score and even win.

"I think we lost in every department. We played lackadaisically. We just have to try to get the ball in the back of the net. If we do not do that we are in problems," continued the worried coach, whose team ended with 10 players following the late dismissal of midfielder Garfield Gillespie.

Paul Davis was right as his team missed a number of simple chances, the easiest of which came in the 73rd minute when substitute Newton Sterling made an excellent pass down the right flank for fellow substitute Ricardo Stern, whose drive across the face of the goal was missed by the usually reliable Kirk Ramsay, who slid in at the far post but failed to make contact.

Different mood

Geoffrey Maxwell of St Georges was understandably in a different mood, as for the first time this season his team moved off the bottom of the table.

"The team played effectively and I am happy for the win and the three points that come with it. They stuck to the tactical plan and were a little better tactically than in our last game. We were able to soak up the pressure, push Arnett forward and hit them on the counter.

"It was our plan to play a counter-attacking game because I think it would suit our athleticism. We are not overly gifted with creative players so this is what we have had to do," Maxwell said.

The win, St Georges' eighth for the season, improved their tally to 29 points and bumped them up to 11th position in the 12-team League. The inactive Benfica, a point behind, slipped to 12th while Village United, also inactive on the day, are a point ahead with 30. Arnett Gardens stood still in eighth position with 36 points.

"I look at this thing as six of us in the cellar. It is not just Georges and we are still in with a chance of survival and everyone has to fight," Maxwell said of his team's new position and the confidence that will flow from it.