Sporting too good for Arnett

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Sporting Central Academy humiliated Arnett Gardens 3-0 at Brancourt on Sunday to considerably boast their stocks in the Digicel Premier League mid-table, while snapping the visitor's recent resurgence under coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis.

Gary McIntosh (29th), Levaughn Williams (48th) and François Swaby (61st), Sporting's three forwards, all preened themselves on an afternoon where they were served well from all angles, and had room to run past defenders and fire shots virtually unhindered.

Swaby, who actually provided the final pass for both McIntosh and Williams even when he had a clear opportunity to shoot, lifted his own season tally to seven, making him the joint top scorer with Vincent Earle. Yesterday's home win pushed Sporting to 23 points, and inside the top six, while Arnett stayed on 19 but slipping to eighth place.

Before yesterday's encounter, Davis, who had helped Arnett snatch eight points in four games in this round, had expressed some anxiety at playing what he termed the league's 'Barcelona'.

He was left grieving after watching Sporting run circles around his side, while raiding at will Maurice Evans' goal. In fact, Evans was a sitting duck to the Sporting's three goals - having little chance to effect saves after the strikers were allowed enough room, as if in target practice.

"We weren't tracking well and we beat ourselves by allowing them to play, and that's what they love to do," Davis said, as he attempted to explain his team's inept performance. His team's only purple patch came late in the second half when Leon Strickland and Vanado Manning came on as substitutes. However, this also coincided with the period when Sporting's first team was depleted after injuries to Williams, McIntosh and stand-in captain Kamal Reid forced their substitutions. Even then, Spor-ting's goalie Andre Blake had little to do.

His opposite number, Nigel Stewart, said his side had played better games and lost, but felt taking the chances was the difference on this occasion. For the second straight match, the team played without top midfielder Jevaughn Watson, who is reportedly overseas pursuing contract options. He was not missed, as the pint-sized Renoir Elliott stole the show in midfield, taking on Arnett players, and interchanging well with his attacking teammates.