Thieves strike as Arnett clip Village

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Two-time champions Arnett Gardens got off to a winning start in the 2011-12 National Premier League yesterday afternoon when goals by Kirk Ramsay and Errol Stevens earned them a gutsy 2-1 win over Village United at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

However, while the 'Junglists' were winning on the pitch they were losing off the field as at the half-time break it was discovered that their changing room was broken into and personal items, including some 20 cellular phones and jewellery were stolen by thieves.

"I believe we played well especially in the first half when we got the goals," said Arnett Garden's coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis. "However, the break-in of our changing room affected us as we did not even get a chance to have a team talk."

The game started with Village United looking the more composed of the two teams and creating the better openings. They should have taken the lead in the fourth minute but a close-range header by Dino Williams struck the right upright.

Arnett countered in the seventh minute when Stevens went clear but his shot was wide of the target.With the momentum in Arnett Gardens' favour they took the lead in the 14th minute. Ramsay pounced on a long-range pass from midfield, sped away from several chasing defenders and fired past the advancing goalkeeper André Palmer.

With Village coming under intense pressure, Arnett Gardens doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Stevens went high for a corner and his powerful header crashed past Palmer for a 2-0 lead.

Finding themselves under the gun, Village began to show greater urgency midway the half and it paid off for them in the 36th minute. Williams won possession outside the box and cracked a fabulous shot which gave the goalkeeper no chance, making the half-time score 2-1.

The second half started with Village fighting back gallantly and looking quite good. However, poor finishing affected their play. In the 50th minute, Aldaine Grant wasted the easiest of chances when he fired straight at the goalkeeper from four yards.

In the 66th minute, Arnett came perilously close when Stevens got away before the goal but was thwarted by a brilliant save by the goalkeeper.Midway the half, Village wasted yet another golden opportunity when substitute Teofore Bennett got a clear header some six yards from goal but directed his header straight at the goalkeeper.

"I thought we played fairly well but we missed too many chances," Village United's coach Cassman Williams said.