Late magic gives Arnett big win

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Midfielder Rohan Reid produced a 25-yard right-footed gem in the final minute of play, to give Arnett Gardens a crucial 1-0 win over Humble Lions in their crucial bottom-six Digicel Premier League matchup at Effortville yesterday.

The goal came at the end of an Andrew Wheeler dribble and layoff, which sat well for Reid to pounce on and unleash in an instant, a shot which would have given even far more experienced goalkeepers than Christopher Louden trouble to save. This result moved Arnett Gardens to 44 points, and closer to ensuring safety from relegation fears brought on by last week's defeat to Sporting Central Academy.

Humble Lions must now win all three remaining games and hope that at least two other teams in the relegation fight have opposite results.

squandered chances

There was some consolation for their disappointed fans, who watched their team squander chance after chance to score as the other Clarendon team in the league, Sporting Central Academy, won their clash against similarly threa-tened Benfica, and have all but guaranteed top-flight football next

season, having moved to 46 points.

The Sporting Central result is seen as good news for Humble Lions, who will face their neighbours at Brancourt on Wednesday. The last five encounters between the two teams have ended in intense draws, but a more relaxed atmosphere may be just what the doctor ordered for Humble Lions.

Reid's superb strike could also be seen as gratitude for outstanding performance from his goalkeeper, Damion Hyatt, who seemed to have shrugged off the memory of the previous week's 4-0 loss to Sporting Central, and kept out everything the Humble Lions strikers threw at him.